It’s been a busy year for Katie Melua, with two Brit nominations under her belt. A ten week European tour which saw her playing to 150,000 people and then of course there was that most unusual of gigs over three hundred meters below the sea (yes, and I can think of a joke or two here as well).

Out this week is her latest single available as a digital only release comprising of three tracks. ‘Shy Boy’ will be familiar to fans as the opening song from her last album ‘Piece by Piece’. It’s no great departure from the formula that Melua is noted for. This single sees her retreading familiar ground with a sweet clean vocal backed with an accomplished jazz tinged pop arrangement. It’s a passable enough effort although it has to be said there is nothing here that will change your life or your listening habits.

Elsewhere on the single you will find a live cover of the old Bobby Gentry number ‘Fancy’, once again nothing here that to raise your blood pressure but then it does nothing to offend either. Rounding things off there is the obligatory Christmas cover and in fairness although I’m as unfestive as they come she doesn’t do a half bad job of covering ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’. Of course the purpose of any single is usually to promote something else, and as well driving sales of the album there is also a pending live date at Wembley Arena on December 3rd with tickets still available (details below).

‘Shy Boy’ is available now through the usual digital outlets courtesy of Dramatico Entertainment.