Pulse - music and more, by Simon Donohue

AFTER a tumultuous 10 years chasing all over the world, Thomas Lang decided it was time to reflect on the roller coaster his life had become.

So it was hardly surprising that the Liverpudlian singer/songwriter should pretend to speak no English when confronted by a fellow Scouser during a rest break in India.

"India is a beautiful country with wonderful people, sights and customs," he said. "But I am not keen on the tourist areas so I couldn't believe it when I heard a Liverpudlian accent in a market. I'm sorry to say that when he asked if I was from Liverpool, I replied: 'Je suis desole, je ne comprends pas'."

Roughly translated, that means: "I am sorry, I do not understand." Lang is releasing his latest album, a work inspired by a Japanese concept artist, and putting the finishing touches to another project which formed the basis of his two-year rest/quest to find himself.

Versions, out on Monday, offers his versions of songs made legendary by world-class jazz and soul artists.

The all-cover album mixes magnificently soulful music with hints of Billie Holliday-blues.

The dark depths of Tom Waites are contrasted with the soulful sweetness of Bill Withers.

"I was asked to work on Versions by Columbia records for a Japanese Concept Artist. "It was originally planned to just release it in Japan but I was so pleased with it that I decided to release it here too.

"The album has fitted in nicely with my own plans for the last two years.

"I left Dry, the record company I had formed in Liverpool, to concentrate on my own writing.

"It wasn't until I was able to sit back and reflect on the last 10 years that I realised just what I had achieved.

"The stuff I have written over the last two years will be used on my seventh album, which will follow Versions."

DJ Paul Gambaccini has described Versions as "dedicated to pure and passionate music".

Among the songs included are two from the soundtrack of the cult film Leon The Pig Farmer.

Despite his youthful looks Lang, who now lives in Liverpool city centre, has been around for an awful long time.

And although recognising the current Japanese "fad" for Western music, he is confident that his music is accepted there because it is good, rather than simply Western.

"I've seen my fair share of disasters over there as well," he said.

"If my music is anything, it is without boundaries."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.