RECORDING his last album in the cosy confines of his front room proved Aztec Camera’s Roddy Frame still had plenty of belief to take a few risks.

The down to earth Scotsman soon realised he had a genuine slice of recording gold on his hands with Surf, which gracefully recounts his life in London.

Critics queued up to lavish praise on the rewarding record, with Mojo Magazine espousing its greatness as "one man, one guitar, one hell of an album", neatly summing up this unexpected treasure.

"Back in the 80s it was all about production, but with Surf it was just about getting a good vocal and guitar take, explained Roddy.

"I was quite made up about the fact Small World was used for the BBC’s Early Doors which is a warm Northern comedy. I recorded a new version of it for the show credits over the phone, it’s quite hard to play with a guitar under your chin!"

Though the dizzy heights of chart success with the superb Somewhere In My Heart and Oblivious may be nearly 20 years behind him, the quality of his music has ensured fans have stuck around.

Having just turned 40 does not seem to have dented his drive at all, though he seems in no major hurry to put out his next album. Life it seems is ticking over pretty nicely for him.

"I’m in the Hyde Park area and I enjoy things like reading, cinema and regular kind of things that any 40 year old guy does, I don’t go out pimping or taking drugs," he quipped in his lively East Kilbride tones.

Being in possession of a decent sense of humour has clearly been an asset for him throughout his career. Recalling the early days, he explained that his musically minded father had been a great inspiration.

"I always knew that I wanted to be in a band and would tell everyone at school that was what I would be doing. My dad was a great singer and I played with him at social clubs when I was about 13 - which was fun as I had punk rock hair and he was just there playing songs like Sweet Caroline."

When a record deal came his way at 19, he was not surprised as he had already been on the gigging circuit for a number of years.

His band’s revolving door of members sadly resulted in fragmented career. "I do look back on Aztec Camera fondly, I’m quite a sentimental person and remember it as quite an adventure. I think of all the different musicians and great people I got to play with. It was fantastic."

This summer has seen him play to massive audience in Japan which have offered an interesting contrast to his lower key dates here in the UK.

As he explained, the gigs will be in acoustic format, but he won’t be lurching into playing any songs about fishermen in Ireland. His heart has always been in pop and sees no reason why he should change now.

"You reach a point in your life when you have a back catalogue, so people will be there for songs like Somwhere in Your Heart. They can tolerate the new stuff so long as I play the old material."

Roddy Frame is appearing at the Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells on Saturday, October 29. Tickets £12.50 - £14.50. Box office 01892 678678.