Beautifully arranged and produced, with the added bonus of having one of the best guitar players in the world performing on them.

Bluesman/guitarist Robin Trower returns with studio album twenty-one. It's a slightly Rockier affair than last year's 'Something's Going To Change', but it is also a much more lyrically personal album, with two of the ten new tracks dealing specifically with the death of Trower's wife. Trower himself states that "this new record is a continuation from the last album, in fact the only reason I stopped recording in the studio was to go on tour". So it's fair to say that if you're a fan of this fine guitarist's previous work, you'll probably know just what you're going to hear. Well, maybe for the most part that's true, but here and there on the album, we see Trower throwing in the odd monkey wrench to confuse fans of old (which I'll explain further on).

First up, there's the wonderful Blues delights Trower has given to us in the shape of 'When Will The Next Blow Fall', 'Back Where You Belong' with its Jimi Hendrix-like guitar riff, the Southern-tinged Swamp Blues of 'Jigsaw' and the laid back, late night workout 'Ain't No Use To Worry'. Alternatively, there are the "monkey wrench" offerings; namely the Funky 'The Fruits Of Your Desire' and 'Delusion Sweet Delusion' where we not only get Trower's superb guitar work but also his take on a James Brown vocal style, that works so well with these two songs.

The most striking and poignant tracks, however, are the two dedicated to the memory of Trower's late wife. 'We Will Be Together Someday' and 'I'm Holding On To You' have beautifully written, heartfelt lyrics (as you would expect), which dare I say are joined to some of Robin Trower's best guitar playing ever. He wrings so much emotion from his instrument during these songs, that it leaves a catch in your throat as you listen to him play.

If Blues is a genre you have a liking for and therefore follow, then 'Where Are You Going To' has a lot of songs on it that you'll want to get to know. All of them beautifully arranged and produced, with the added bonus of having one of the best guitar players in the world performing on them.

Ian Johnson