ALBUM OF THE WEEK

Rick Astley Beautiful Life BMG, out Fri ★★★★★

In one of the stranger phenomena of our troubled times, Rick Astley is flourishing 30 years after finding fame as a polo-necked thoroughbred in the Stock, Aitken & Waterman stable. Astley released 50 in 2016, a No.1 record that he wrote, produced and performed himself. That voice, however, remains his golden ticket. A smooth cafe creme in a world of frothy lattes, it unifies and occasionally elevates this derivative material. Astley’s gospel testifying on Last Night On Earth is impressive, though he’s less sure-footed on the more contemporary Shivers. The Rick Renaissance looks set to roll on.