You’ve got to hand it to Peter André and Jordan (or Katie Price – whatever she is calling herself) – they sure know how to milk an opportunity. And that is exactly what the former has done with his new album The Long Road Back.

For the opening track we are hit with ‘Insania’, (a song easily recognisable for it’s doo-doo-doos) that we were first ‘treated’ to in the depths of the Australian jungle. This is the song that made Ant and Dec crack up, and it is easy to see why. I mean, it’s not just the tune, but it is about cloning. Peter André trying to make a politic statement is like Kitten from Big Brother 5 writing a book entitled Lesbians Get A Fair Deal.

The album tries to go down the safe R&B route which seems so fashionable at the moment, but it sounds incredibly dated. Almost as if it is the album André should have released all those years ago when he was at his peak.

There are a few ballads and to be fair, Peter does not have an atrocious voice (that is when he lays off the high notes), and we are also treated to a cover of Kool And The Gang’s 'Ooh La La La'.  ‘Mysterious Girl’ also features not once, but twice, along with ‘World of Her Own’, which sounds like it has been written in the hope of recreating the success of the former.

Apparently Peter’s forth coming tour sold out in three hours in the town of Colchester. I am sure the rest of Essex will also be running out to buy a copy of the album, though I suggest that if it is a Long Road Back, then Peter should start walking it. 
(1½/5)

Release Date: 07 June 2004