Soulfire came at a time when Tom Hingley (ex-frontman of Inspiral Carpets) was at an all-time low contemplating his career, the future and having doubts that he was good enough to make a stab at a solo career. Damon Gough (aka Badly Drawn Boy) persuaded Tom that you've just got to follow that gut instinct and go for what you believe in. After the release of the critically acclaimed solo acoustic 2000 album, Keep Britain Untidy, this return to a full band rock album allowed a base to build on and showed off the voice that had been hidden amongst the Inspiral's trademark organ sound.
With Soulfire he's back with a little help from his friends Jimi Goodwin of Doves, Denise Johnson of Primal Scream fame and various members of The Fall in his live band. First single Happiness is pretty much a straightforward guitar pop tune which perhaps doesn't give a full indication of how eclectic this album actually is. Elsewhere the dance influence is prevalent taking in everything from subtle trip-hop on "Formal Tourist" and "Work Rest and Play" to breakbeats on "Manmade". Not that guitars have been left out in favour of a new trendy dance direction, but more that they've simply been added into the melting pop of the Hingley. Half the album is co-written by Jem Kelly of The Lotus Eaters.
