HOW ironic that just as we’ve had four days of fawning and forelock-tugging towards ‘The Firm’, whose ermine grip is stronger than ever, I get to review two albums by pop and soul band The Christians.

Back in the late 1980s the trio extolled the virtues of peace, love and understanding but cut with a view of a world, and especially their Britain, where injustice, misrule and greed were prevalent. Plus ca change? Many of those tracks are revisited on these albums, both “deluxe versions” re-releases to mark the 25th anniversary of their self-titled debut.

All the stand-out hits gleam – Forgotten Town, Ideal World and Hooverville from the first album and Words and Greenbank Drive from the latter – all propelled by Garry Christian’s Arabica-smooth voice. But it’s disc two from the first album which showcases them best. The threesome escape the 1980s Mel and Kim, Stock, Aitken and Waterman treatment and revel in more raw and truly Christian soul versions highlighted by two takes on the Isley Brothers’ Harvest For The World.