He was a red faced child

There's something really quite cute about Ed Harcourt. He'd probably love someone saying that despite the darker tones of some of his songs. It's because the hirsute singer/songwriter can sew a sliver lining into the worst of times. A song about loneliness? Give the music a throbbing energy with an ethereal female voice echoing in the background and suddenly it's medicinal not suicidal.

I saw the wastrel perform at the 100 Club a couple of years ago (supported magnificently by scouser Katherine Williams) when his Strangers album was out. Like every one of his London gigs during the past 7 or so years, it was sold out. And his performance was electric.

Until Tomorrow Then: The Best of Ed Harcourt is a timely retrospective. Like Rufus, the man has a huge following and critics adore him but the cross over into the mainstream resolutely refuses to happen. But there again, what's the measure of success when you've got tracks like these...

Loneliness - Ed Harcourt (mp3 Download)

Born in the 70s - Ed Harcourt (mp3 Download)