Johnny Bennett's second solo album, 'Gone Missing', was one of the first CDs to wing its way to my mail box courtesy of Uber Rock almost twelve music filled months ago, and it's still, absolutely without question, one of the best.

So what we have here is a collection of his first two albums (2009's debut 'Violet Hush' also being a very worthy album), released courtesy of his new label Blue Pie Records, and quite honestly the quality is staggering. He's been compared by a few, including me, to Lenny Kravitz, but I'll be more pointed this time and say that the Kravitz-ism is purely in the soul, in that cool, retro blues-rock-swing that under-pinned the great man's debut album 'Mama Said', that's where Johnny rolls, rather than the gutsy rock-bombast of Kravitz's later releases - but that's not to say the Bennett doesn't know how to crank it up a notch occasionally.

Where to start then, twelve songs I know so well and that you, in all seriousness, should all be aware of at the very least. Whether it's the cool rock 'n' roll swagger of 'Sister Pharmaceutical', the full on soul-breeze of 'The Car Is Waiting' or the left field balladry of 'Sweet memories' and 'Why Are You So Happy', this is a superb record from start to finish that's positively dripping with great songs; another I'll mention is 'World On Fire' which houses a great lyrical message as well as a riff that's cooler than an Arctic winter.

It's almost impossible to categorise Johnny, but if you're fond of a good tune that's not overly sugared, with an occasional barbed riff and some real intelligent lyrics, then it's all here, and it's all delivered with supreme confidence, a slick soulful strut and a really genuine feel. Plus, if all that wasn't enough, Johnny Bennett is in possession of a voice richer in terms of its bluesy tone than any white man has any real right to.

Just how much longer this man can fly beneath the radar is questionable, he really is that good...and he really deserves to be heard.

www.johnny-bennett.com/