
James Kirk was the original guitarist with pop-funk outfit Orange Juice just as they were on the cusp of wider acceptance. Twenty years may have intervened since Kirk's last recorded output but his solo album - just like similar efforts from Edwyn Collins and Kirk's replacement, Malcolm Ross - has made a record that is pure Orange Juice. 'You Can Make It If You Boogie' is infused with that very familiar mix of warm, funk-influenced melody, dolefully delivered in Kirk's surprisingly strong soulful vocals. The highlights are the self-debunking 'Rehab' (with its chorus line of "I'm going through rehab. Put me on a programme"), whereas 'Cardboard Castles' and 'Houston, Texas' boast superb jangly guitar refrains. There's enough time given to 'Felicity' a song that Kirk wrote whilst in his former band. So the question is: what on earth has Kirk been up to in between albums? Chiropody apparently, but he barely puts a foot wrong here.