Multi platinum-selling David Gray has released his first new album in four years, Brass In A Gold Age, and he’s taking it on tour. The eleventh album of his 25-year career is produced by Ben De Vries, and led by an approach exploring new electronic sounds. With looped soundscapes and textural guitar, this is a meditative work with long, slowly evolving tracks.

The crowd’s reaction to this new material isn’t necessarily wild, but when Gray thanks the audience for honouring him, they really show their appreciation. Then Gray moves onto his rollicking hit single “Sail Away” from 1998’s White Ladder, and the audience go crazy. Nostalgia plays a big factor, but Gray’s many hit songs, including “Babylon”, truly stand the test of time.

Gray is a fantastic singer live, fully open to the audience and with his subtle trademark growl. He shows off some really stratospheric falsetto, but overall stays in his truthful, world-weary chest voice. Gray has never been a virtuoso on the guitar or piano, but handles both with a beautiful musicality, finishing off with an effortless solo rendition of “This Year’s Love”.

As good a solo performer as Gray is, he is ably assisted by a fantastic band of drums, bass, keyboard and guitar, each working their own major panel of electronics and additional vocals. The lighting and sound tech is also great, and adds a huge amount to Gray’s two-hour set. As delicate and contemplative as Gray’s new album is, by the finale, the entire audience is on their feet.

David Gray and co are on tour across the UK:

• 15 Mar Cardiff St David’s Hall (SOLD OUT)
• 16 Mar Cambridge Corn Exchange (SOLD OUT)
• 17 Mar London Royal Festival Hall (SOLD OUT)
• 19 Mar Brighton Dome
• 20 Mar Southend Cliffs Pavilion
• 22 Mar Manchester Bridgewater Hall (SOLD OUT)
• 23 Mar Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
• 24 Mar Gateshead Sage (SOLD OUT)
• 26 Mar Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (SOLD OUT)
• 27 Mar Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
• 29 Mar Birmingham Symphony Hall (SOLD OUT)
• 30 Mar York Barbican (SOLD OUT)
• 31 Mar Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (SOLD OUT)
• 2 Apr Belfast Waterfront (SOLD OUT)
• 4 Apr Castlebar Royal Theatre
• 5 Apr Dublin Bord Gais Theatre (SOLD OUT)
• 6 Apr Dublin Bord Gais Theatre (SOLD OUT)