On paper, Keith Lynch's Unknown Component seems like the most depressing thing in the world. Lynch's Dylanesque sneer and some bleak instrumentation doesn't bode well but the way in which he uses the tools at his disposal is done with a likeable scruffy charm. 'Separately Connected' is arguably the most upbeat of his last three records but fans of his earlier melancholia will not be short-changed by this record.

'Ulterior Motive' and 'In This Direction' sound initially dirgey but there's always a tune beneath the miserablism. It's a trick which Lynch has worked well on previous records and it serves him well too on the grungier 'Alone With Your Mistakes'. 'The Jury' makes use of a relatively happy riff and 'The Truth Of Telling Lies' is almost summery in outlook; even ending with a spirited "Come on!". However, there are signs that the formula might be running out as the songs don't offer enough to show development since the last record. For his selective audience though, that's a positive rather than a negative.