Example - Playing In The Shadows

Regular readers of Express & Star's The Ticket supplement will have spotted our near-on obsession with the man legend that is Example.

Yes, Team Ticket has been championing Mr Gleave for longer than most and it seems that during the last six months or so, the rest of the world has finally caught up and the rapper-cum-singer has enjoyed two number one singles in a row.

Now he's back with his third album – yes third – and he does not disappoint. From the haunting opening beats of the first track Skies Don't Lie to the beautiful piano-led bonus track Lying To Yourself, this is an album that truly demonstrates an artist at the top of his game.

It's cliched to say it but Example has really matured and while there are still some old school lyrics (I call my own shots/wash my own pots/clean my own socks), there also some genuinely moving tracks such as Microphone and Anything.

But as any Example fan knows, what the man does best is get people moving and there are some real stand-out floor fillers including Natural Disaster, a collaboration with DJ Laidback Luke, and and current number one single Stay Awake.

Amy Burns