Vocals and positivity are a characteristic so far on the tracks from Yellow, and yet the lyric points to the spectre of the track title as being the dread hound of depression, the veritable ''black dog'' that Emma-Jean Thackray sings of. It's proving clear-as-day however that Thackray's all-round musicianship crossing from instruments to vocals are more to the fore even more obviously than ever. 'Spectre' opens into a very full keyboards line for improvisation but the interest is the shape of the whole piece in the arrangement in other words as well as the message carefully couched. And there is plenty of drama, heat and development. The Yorkshire-born musician who initially surfaced as a trumpeter is transformed on this album. Pithy and direct in its lyrics 'Spectre' ups the ante still further. Need to know and hear? Absolutely. SG

Emma-Jean Thackray, photo: Movementt/Bandcamp