Phil Collins - Testify [2LP]

Testify shows Phil Collins at his most personal and unguarded, and this 180-gram 2LP edition is set to bring his 2002 album back to vinyl.

His first solo studio album since 1996, it was co-produced with Rob Cavallo and shaped heavily by family life, with Collins drawing on his then-wife and young son for several of the songs. It is a low-key, reflective record that trades big-drum bombast for warm keyboards, gentle grooves and plenty of heart.

"Can't Stop Loving You", a cover of the Billy Nicholls song first recorded by Leo Sayer, became the lead single and topped the US adult contemporary chart. The gospel-tinged title track lifts the mood, "Wake Up Call" opens the record, and "Driving Me Crazy" brings a more insistent rhythm to the second half.

Longtime guitarist Daryl Stuermer and session ace Tim Pierce add tasteful colour on guitar, but the focus stays on Collins' voice and his knack for an unhurried, singalong melody. The lyrics wrestle with ageing and with the fine line between devotion and obsession.

Often overlooked next to his 1980s blockbusters, Testify rewards listeners who prefer his softer side, and spreading it across four sides gives these quieter songs the space they deserve.