GRAEME Clark is the bassist with Wet Wet Wet and when he is not working as part of that band, he has a blossoming solo career.

It transpires that Graeme is a gifted songwriter who writes soulful songs with some thoughtful lyrics and gentle melodies.

Mr Understanding is an album he recorded a couple of years ago and features WWW’s unofficial fifth member, guitarist Graeme Duffin along with multi-instrumentalist Sandy Jones.

The album consists of many styles; easy listening, soul, borderline folk, country and blues.

What is also apparent, is that Graeme is also a superb guitarist in his own right, he plays a delicate acoustic with finesse.

Of the tracks on Mr Understanding, the highlights are the country-tinged When I’m Away FromYou, the bluesy Me & The Devil Inside and the uptempo Bulletproof.

However, all the tracks are excellent and shows that Graeme is not just a quarter of a band.

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Catching Fire is a four-track CD recently released by Graeme.

Strangely though, the title track does not lead off the CD; that honour falls to the superb Heart of Stone.

Again teamed with Sandy Jones and Graeme Duffin, these four tracks show more polish than Graeme’s previous releases and it is obvious that his music has developed.

Heart of Stone is almost like a stripped-down Motown and perhaps the cover has influenced my thoughts on this, as it is reminiscent of a Four Tops or Temptations style.

The title track is a harder song, which is softened by the use of mandolin, giving an almost traditional feel.

Another aspect of Graeme’s songs that really impresses is the use of vocal harmonies, whether it is just him double-tracked or with Graeme Duffin; the vocals are exemplary and at times border on Everly Brothers territory.

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Graeme tours often and to hear his music in a live setting is sure to be a wonderful experience.