If it was not for the beautiful string arrangements for "Let's Go Out Tonight" with Paul Buchanan (of Blue Nile) doing the vocals on Craig Armstrong's first solo release in the "Space Between Us", I would not have known who he is and become such a fan.

Some have disputed in the past that they can't hear any difference between Blue Nile's original rendition of "Let's Go Out Tonight" on "Hats" and this latter day version. But listen again, the opening chords…….the harpsichord and the lushness of the sound, that's the difference! It is as if the music slowly unpeals one's clothes off as it unravels itself and slowly explores the rest of one's senses………it is not just a great song by Paul Buchanan but a great arrangement that inspires one to think about making love!

The other gem of a song is "This Love" featuring Liz Fraser which was written by Armstrong and Burns. After "unpealing" one's clothes with "Let's Go Out Tonight", this song makes me want to just "surrender" and lay back and listen to Fraser's wonderful vocals and the music - a unique combination of classical, pop and trip-hop arrangements. How does he manage that?

Perhaps, it was because of his background at Royal Academy of Music in London and later at the Scottish Arts Council and prior to releasing his solo effort, has a long string of credits which includes amongst others, co-writing Texas's hit "I Don't Want A Lover", Big Dish "Satellites", soundtracks for Romeo + Juliet, Goldeneye, Mission Impossible, Batman Forever, Plunkett & Macleane and Bone Collector and string arrangements for the likes of Blue Nile ("Family Life" on "Peace At Last"), Madonna ("Take A Bow" from "Bedtime Stories", "I Want You" with Massive Attack for a tribute to Marvin Gaye) and U2 ("Hold Me, Thrill Me……)

He composed and conducted the arrangements on Massive Attack's album "Protection". Two of the songs that he co-wrote with members of Massive Attack make an appearance on this album ie "Weather Storm" and "Sly II". "Sly II" has an incredible string arrangement in the middle that makes you want to shake your head in tandem with the "violent" violin works. The rest of the album is simply gorgeous, soothing movie soundtrack-like tunes which just makes one's heart ache by the beauty of it all.