Four years after parting company with Blur, the shy Graham Coxon admits that, right now, he likes himself more than he has done in ages.

These feelings of admiration are echoed by fans and the music Press, with many calling his latest solo album his best yet.

Love Travels At Illegal Speeds is his sixth solo release and is, in essence, a love song, looking at matters of the heart from all angles.

"There's things about having crushes on people who aren't full of a lot of respect for themselves. There's songs about infidelity. There's a song about feeling inspired by someone who has a bloke already, and there's one about sadness and happiness when you first meet somebody. Then there's one about needing some affection and one about, 's***, are we gonna do this or not?'

"Then there's one about splitting up, there's a bit of a supernatural one and there's a really sentimental one that says all those hideously cringeworthy things about being so in love, but in a way that's very miserable rather than a jolly Girls Aloud way."

Surrounding all that are moments of gentle, acoustic restraint, as well as surging power-pop and garage rock.

Among Coxon's upbeat melodies and inventive guitar playing, there are flugel horns and flutes, harmonicas and Hammond organs. "It never goes over the top,' says Coxon, "but it is a bit more lavish."

Coxon is flavour of the month in Brighton. He played a low-key gig at Audio on March 13, and Tuesday's gig sold out speedily.

Starts 7.30pm, tickets cost £14 (Sold out). Call 01273 673311.