Emma Pollock Watch the Fireworks

In an alternative universe, the Delgados called it a day in 2005 to great pubic dismay after 10 years of commercial success to match their critical acclaim, and Emma Pollock's debut solo album is released amid a flurry of media interest and high profile promotion, soaring into the upper reaches of the album charts on reputation alone. In this universe, the people never quite took the mercurial talents of the Delgados to their hearts, and Pollock's debut arrives on 4AD with the label's typical lack of fanfare.

The sombre and stirring New Land, gets the album off to a fine start, the menacing lyrics "Tell me that it isn't true, the things you say he did to you, for my rag flies and a man dies" buried beneath a whirling and diaphanous waltz. Pollock's contradictory approach sees depression become a muscular pop song in Acid Test, which starts a row of four standout tracks. Paper and Glue is a wordy and pretty pop tune, Pollock's breathy vocals recounting a failing affair, and Limbs a sweet, floating ballad.

The optimistic Adrenaline is perhaps the highlight of the album. The driving piano riff, clamorous drums, and soaring backing vocals add up to a breathless pop number with a sting in the tail.

One of Pollock's great charms is the ability to disguise bitter, fearful, and vitriolic lyrics beneath an upbeat soaring melody; although it would be nice to hear her give sound to all her anger and melancholy at least a couple of times. Even when the titles give away the maudlin theme - If Silence Means That Much to You, Here Comes The Heartbreak - and the breezy, upbeat melodies belie the tales of a relationship falling apart or a breakdown. It's perhaps fitting that the most sinister sounding track is the closer called Optimist, but that just seems to be Pollock's contradictory way.

Watch the Fireworks is a sterling album that, in part, recalls 4AD's pop successes with Belly, Breeders, and Throwing Muses over a decade ago. Although Pollock never unleashes the full venom that all these artists did on occasion, and the lighter moments don't quite reach that dizzying release that such contrasts allow. Nonetheless, she could certainly teach other so-called alternative pop-stars of the present day a thing or two.

Easily surpassing compatriot KT Tunstall in the original pop songwriting stakes, some decent promotion could finally see Pollock getting some of the recognition she deserves. There are certainly a couple of great singles here. It won't happen though, leave that sort of justice to the alternative universe; and here, just take this album to your heart and cherish it as the sweet, accomplished, and skilfully made, underappreciated little gem that it is... much as we did with the Delgados then.