Allen, who turned 74 in September, remains an irresistibly attractive, superb communicator…[He] is deftly accompanied by Stephen Higgins, who savours the music’s sweetness without over-egging the pudding…Clearly, Allen and his pianist Stephen Higgins are thoroughly enjoying themselves, Allen’s voice still sounding gloriously burnished.

As one might expect, he approaches this repertory straightforwardly and with his customary directness, making no attempt at crossover croon or an approximation of jazz vocalism. Inevitably, perhaps, his voice has lost some of its sheen of late…Against that, however, must be set his unforced sincerity of expression and telling way with words…It’s a fine, consistently engaging disc, witty and touching in equal measure.

Warm, witty and wistful, this lovely album is sheer delight, even if it did leave my mascara slightly streaky – Allen has a knack for gently tugging the heart-strings without ever over-doing the sentimentality, and at 73 he remains in fine vocal fettle. Highlights include a raffish account of Cole Porter’s Just one of those things and a deliciously maudlin take on One for my baby, with wry, properly piano-bar-style support from Higgins.