David Gray is back doing what he does better than almost anyone, and fans of complex, serious, lyrical songcraft should rejoice. 'Dear Life,' Gray’s 13th studio album, contemplates “the beautiful thing that we all treasure,” with a suggestion of a formal address - as if the writer is composing a letter to life itself. Some songs tenderly grapple with relationship choices and consequences, some face mortality and loss, some boldly tackle the biggest questions of existence. There is a playfulness at work too, and a strong female presence throughout, with vocals from David’s musician daughter Florence Gray on several songs and a punchy duet with rising star Talia Rae on the lead single, Plus & Minus. Gray is a multi-million-selling arena artist who made one of the bestselling British albums of the 21st century, the blockbuster White Ladder, which pushed his intense and passionate blend of acoustics and electronica into the pop spotlight. Whilst stars from Adele to Hozier to Ed Sheeran have acknowledged Gray’s profound impact and influence, Gray has continued to plough his own furrow, relentlessly seeking out a purity of expression. 'Dear Life' is a big statement, the work of a driven man obsessively focussed on a personal artistic journey. “I'm feeling very joyful about the act of making and sharing this music... I have the same hopes and dreams whenever I release a record - that if you try and do something special, then maybe something magical will happen in return.”