Andy Abraham is better known as the dustman runner-up of the last series of TV talent competition X Factor, and his debut album is everything you'd expect. Recordings of songs performed on the show: check. A page of thank yous to cast, crew, family and all the people who made The Impossible Dream possible: check. An enclosed advertisement enabling you to get Official Andy Abraham Ringtones: check. And so the moneymaking machine rolls on. But back to the music...
This collection of covers is also everything you'd expect; there is no denying that Abraham has a pleasant and inoffensive voice, and while some of the performances here are a bit too lacklustre to set your average caffeine-fuelled critic's heart a thumping, his rendition of Me and Mrs Jones remains excellent - solidly delivered with both passion and precision pitch. The same goes for When A Man Loves A Woman, Unforgettable and When I Fall In Love.
Undeniably tracks such as Hang Up, Sticky Situation, Greatest Love of All and Where Would I Be fall into the forgettable category and some of the material (namely, Lately, If You Ever Go Away, The Impossible Dream) is lyrically and musically dreadful - no fault of Abraham's. Concentrating on the positive, if Abraham brings some classic soul tracks to the attention of a younger generation, and makes a few bucks for himself in the process, who are we to begrudge a nice guy his big break - even if it is an extra-large cheese fest, and he is the delivery man.
