David Gray's ninth album, Foundling, was born as a side project during the sessions for its predecessor Draw The Line, Foundling quickly burst into bloom and commanded the full attention of its creator - an experiment left in the lab overnight that you wake to find taking over your world.

"It's the record I've been wanting to make for a long time, and it's as strong a statement as White Ladder in its way - a jumping off point for what might happen next." Collaborators included White Ladder producer and long term colleague Iestyn Polson, Caroline Dale and her octet, the Kick Horns as well as the regular members of the band rearranged into different roles.

The result offers contradictions - minimalist and dramatic, understated and mature - and yielded comparisons to Tom Waits, Randy Newman and The Band.