More people in Britain own "White Ladder" than own a ladder. And so they should - this spare, subtly digitised nu-folk masterpiece is an essential domestic object. Gray is a tuneful upgrade of Bob Dylan, an edgier successor to Van Morrison ; his songs pack atmosphere, mystery and serious emotional payload. The radio hits "Babylon" and "Sail Away" will sneak into your dreams on first hearing, and the rest will follow suit in due course.
"Gray's hooks aren't gimmicky -- they're rooted in brooding melodies and straightforward poetry." - RollingStone