THE veteran Irish singer continues his recent form, presenting a frustrating mixture of good and bad.

First the good - and there is plenty of quality music here, with Van in surprisingly happy voice on the sumptuous slur of the title track.

The mood changes to skiffle for Whinin'Boy Moan, dips into lovely sentimentality for Evening In June, then takes a self-regarding turn on Too Many Myths. Oh, dear. This is where everything crumbles. The world doesn't need any more songs in which Van moans about fame.

Even the hardiest Van fan doesn't require another complaint about celebrity. Here we get three, including two terrors - Fame and Get On With The Show.

Compensation comes with Saint James Infirmary, Once In A Blue Moon and the folk lilt of Little Village. But please, Van, stop singing about what a pain in the behind it is to be famous. We get the message.

Morrison pops up to winning effect on a posthumous tribute to the great blues artist John Lee Hooker, who died two years ago, still toiling the blues soil at the age of 83.

Van's contribution is Dimples, a charming blues stroll, while George Thorogood guests on Mad Man Blues. There is more material to come and, if the closing tracks are any guide, a collection of acoustic blues would be a real treat.

Updated: 09:06 Thursday, November 27, 2003