It’s been a long time between records for Francisca Griffin, formerly of Look Blue Go Purple and Cyclops – 20 years in fact since 1998’s ‘Some From The Sky’ debut solo album.

There’s a lot of personal reminiscences and recollection on her new album. Ghost Boy is about Griffin’s oldest son; Martyn is inspired by her late husband Martyn Bull, and My Wish, is one for late friend Peter Gutteridge, with a lovely turn from Alastair Galbraith on violin.

‘The Spaces Between’ has a fine balance between the lighter, folkier tracks, like the beautiful Magdelena (with angelic vocal harmonies from Tiny Pieces of 8’s Deidre Newall), and the heavier, more punk sounds on songs like Stardust, which crashes with an unexpected and exhilarating intensity.

Intense can also describe Bones and Lies, which incorporates percussion, mandolin and a heavier drum sound, courtesy of her son Alexander.

Vocally Griffin is at times melodic and atonal, but never tuneless, and her style is reflected in the instrumentation, especially Galbraith’s violin work.

Exquisitely recorded and produced by Griffin and Forbes Williams (with Williams also mixing and mastering the album), ‘The Spaces Between’ has been a long time coming… but it was well worth the wait, and rewards with every listen.