Tom Vek – Luck

Luck as an album title must surely be an ironic nod towards Tom Vek's curious history. Stardom beckoned a decade ago with a storming debut, but a six year delay before second LP Leisure Seizure's release meant his gathered momentum had all but evaporated.

It's to his enormous credit that, despite such setbacks and the passing of time, Vek is still keeping the bar high and producing wilfully awkward, angular and sometimes brilliant fare that dresses itself up as floorfilling pop.

The ragged Sherman (Animals in the Jungle) and layered harmonies of Pushing Your Luck are a fine reminder of the Londoner's talent and equal to anything on We Have Sound. Occasional quality control lapses seep through (The Girl You Wouldn't Leave For Any Other Girl is little more than acoustic filler) and Vek's nasal purr might not be for everyone, but this is an otherwise welcome return from a genuine innovator.