Andy Yorke

The man calls himself a serial band-quitter, having abandoned his long-suffering colleagues in Oxford-based (and critically acclaimed) outfit Unbelievable Truth on more than one occasion, each time to pursue an abiding interest in all things Russian, including a spell as a translator for Greenpeace.

However, Andy Yorke has latterly reconciled himself to the fact that it is possible to do more than one thing at a time: he retains a passion for Russia and is releasing a solo album, Simple in July on the Aktiv label.

Over the years since quitting Unbelievable Truth for the final time, Andy found the music continuing to flow “despite himself”; but ultimately writing solo proved to be a liberating experience. Manifesting saintly levels of forgiveness, his former bandmates provide musical and production assistance on the album, which has a purer and more upbeat feel than his earlier, more melancholy output – a result, we’re happy to hear, of Andy finding himself in a happier place.

In a word: lush