Amy Macdonald - Under Stars review: ‘a tuneful collection’

Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald broke through as a teenager a decade ago, her energetically strummed guitar pop proving to be a consistently big seller.

Now 29, her fourth album is likely to be her fourth top five release, as a tuneful collection that doesn’t mess with the formula.

Her mighty voice will be too strident for some, and her lyrics too often stray into self-empowering cliche: “Be who you are, don’t hide it,” she urges on the title track.

However, Feed My Fire and the single Dream On are the best examples of the fast-paced fun she can offer, and the slower Down By the Water, with its slight gospel feel, offers a welcome touch of subtlety.

Existing fans ought to be perfectly satisfied.

(Virgin EMI)