First Listen is the part of Musos' Guide where we tempt you in with lesser played tracks from the recent past or this very minute. Enjoy.

First things first - it's disappointing that this album (Hitchcock's twentieth) contains a wholly pointless cover of 'The Crystal Ship'. Why an artist of his stature feels the need to include any cover version amongst songs of their own on a studio album, particularly in this day and age where The X Factor has further devalued such things, is beyond me. Breaking a live set up or encoring with one is fair enough or, as Anna Calvi has done in the last month, release a covers-only collection; at least that way the entire release can be ignored by those who fail to see the point of the exercise.

This niggle aside The Man Upstairs is a fine collection that shows Robyn Hitchcock to be in excellent form. Considered, downbeat songs are the order of the day so don't expect anything along the lines of 'My Wife & My Dead Wife', although 'Somebody To Break Your Heart' injects a welcome bit of harmonica-fuelled oomph at the mid-point of the album. In the main though this is a release to explore over a number of listens as the nuances of each song make themselves known like layers of silt settling upon your brain. Put it on and do the housework and it'll be over without registering but stick it on repeat and settle back to give it your entire concentration and its riches become evident.

Lost love and its recollection are the topic of first track 'The Ghost In You' and the air of sweet melancholia that pervades the song sets the tone for the bulk of what follows. Hitchcock remains a master of saying it's good to remember but there's life going on out there so get out amongst it and have some new experiences. 'To Turn You On' (with it's little nod to 'The Man With The Lightbulb Head' and 'A Day In The Life') is a fine example of this amidst a largely fine piece of work.

Now, where's my copy of The Soft Parade?

The Man Upstairs is released on August 25 and is available from amazon and iTunes.