Dave Stewart, The Spiritual Cowboys - Dave Stewart And The Spiritual Cowboys (2013)

Dave, one half of Eurythmics, has been making rock history since the early 70s. This remarkably versatile 1991 offering kept the flag flying - it is replete with all the elements that made Eurythmics so special: Strange visionary lyrics, brilliant hooks and subtle, understated production. He's quite a chameleon -- on Soul Years he outbowies David, on King Of The Hypocrites (a complex piece with disturbing undertones) -- he outdylans Bob and on Love Shines he outmccartneys Paul. Jack Talking is a smooth funky ditty evocative of the Bee Gees, This Little Town is a Kinks-like number with folksy harmonica, On Fire has a lush, guitar-driven wall of sound, while Fashion Bomb boasts a mixture of dance style rhythms with glam-rock overtones and Party Town reminds one of the underrated Tourists, particularly in the juxtaposition of lugubrious lyrics with the orchestral fullness of the backing. A delightful listen.