Cliff's first major release came in 1990, and each subsequent release has shown subtle development and improvement on the last - and this, his sixth album, is the one that has the most to offer.
'School for Love' is a fantastically constructed piece of work, there is a theme of heartbreak and loss that runs through much of the disc, but this is tempered by a number of upbeat and up-tempo songs, with 'Sugartown' and 'Whenever I Sing the Blues' being two that really stand out.
He's a superbly expressive guitarist and as usual, while the guitar is present on almost all the songs, the arrangements tend to be sparse, leaving room for the dynamic vocals and other instrumentation room to shine and develop - it's a distinct sound and one that never fails to impress. It covers a good range of musical styles, and is a mature album that encompasses folk, rock, and blues across the 13 songs.
Instrumentation is varied, effective and dynamic - a variety of guitars, mandolin, organ, piano, and fiddle are all present here, as are a good number of guest musicians, Dar Williams, Mark Erelli, & Cheryl Wheeler amongst those helping out.
'School for Love' is a strong and varied disc in every respect, and while it does have excellent stand out tracks, the beauty of the disc comes through repeated listening.

£13.49