Million selling songwriter, accomplished musician, sharp dresser and all round top bloke, Steve Cradock is familiar to most as the long-serving guitarist in Paul Weller’s band and Ocean Colour Scene. Recruited by Paul Weller in 1993 (Weller recalling Cradock from his days in The Boys), the guitarist’s infectious enthusiasm soon kick-started OCS back into life, with second album ‘Moseley Shoals’ spawning four Top Twenty hits including karaoke perennial ‘The Riverboat Song’. Follow up ‘Marchin’ Already’, knocked Oasis’  ‘Be Here Now’ off the number one spot and the band’s place at Britpop’s top table was undoubtedly confirmed with an appearance at Oasis’ Knebworth mega-gig.

Alternating between OCS and a role as The Modfather’s musical consiglieri ever since, Steve only got round to making his solo debut, the splendid ‘Kundalini Target’, two years ago. ‘Peace City West’, his latest solo album, was recorded over a fortnight at Deep Litter Studios in Devon with a revolving cast of musicians including actor James Buckley (The Inbetweeners) on guitar and vocals. It’s as richly melodic as you’d expect from someone with such an established musical pedigree, with the sort of heart-melting pop songs most bands would give their eye-teeth for.

Check out the video for ‘I Man’:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOEytIjE4hA