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Released: 20th March 2006.

Coming third behind Andy and Shayne in the X Factor final last December, Carl & Andy Pemberton aka Newcastle's Journey South seemed to have, with some ease, slipped happily into the role of fully fledged pop stars. The trouble is, the fact they cover songs so much may be a bit off putting for some, unless of course you're like me, dared to be different and try the album out. I wasn't that much of a fan during the show, but I now love most of this album.

The album opens with their cover of Roberta Flack's “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, which is also their first single. It's a soaring and promising start, which sets the album off nicely. Next, we're brought their version of “Let It Be”, which most will remember as the song they did in the final. Backed by a strong gospel choir, it's an uplifting number that sends hairs down the back of your neck.

Other highlights of this album include their versions of “I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For”, “Nobody Knows” and a haunting interpretation of the Cyndi Lauper classic “Time After Time”, but make sure you check out the original songs too – “All Of You” and “All That I Am”, written with the Metrophonic team (who produced Natasha Bedingfield's “These Words”). Overall, this is a very fruitful start for an equally fruitful twosome.

(Alex MacGregor)

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