It may be nonsense, but it is still sometimes said that all contemporary jazz sounds the same. That is not a criticism that could be aimed at Steve Day, an acclaimed writer of jazz non-fiction and liner notes who also makes music in a capacity perhaps best described as singing poet. On this, his fourth album on Leo Records, Day's lyrics take in everyone from Desdemona to Sally Bowles, via Cecil Taylor and Gil Scott-Heron. Politics is also a strong theme, with references to Belfast, Gaza, Palestine, Iraq and Syria. It's highly unusual stuff, and the musicians (like co-vocalist Julie Tippetts) are superb. Yet Day's singing voice, a sort of crooning Mark E Smith, is at the very least an acquired taste. Neither his affinity with the music, nor his facility with words, is in question. And yet, for a vocal album, it's a little odd to find oneself waiting for the instrumental bits.