One wonders about the motives for this minimalist revisiting of Carly's 'greatest hits'.

Certainly the reworking of You're So Vain and the suggestion that it now includes a clue to the identity of her former lover, has gained her more TV, broadsheet and tabloid coverage than she's had in several decades.

One could argue that it's a very strange and cynical ploy to prop up her pension portfolio. On the other hand it could be cathartic purging of the past.

Whatever, it's a brave move to strip bare her career highlights to their most intimate components. In particular, Carly's vocals are exposed and left pretty much untreated in this project masterminded with verging on religious reverence by her son Ben Taylor who also contributes guitar and backing vocals.

Including two new songs the whole set has a warm, homely and edging towards unplugged feel which is likely to be welcomed by fans giving, as it does, some old favourites a contemporary dusting down. But for the occasional listener it's no substitute for the real thing.

**½

Review by Pete Whalley