''Though the folk of the British Isles ring through in the countryside album, the former Police frontrunner brings a global orchestral prominence to the collection – his tightest testament of songs in ages, which all play off each other blending into one brilliant narrative for a story where he reveals more of himself than he knows. Sting engages his listeners in his most intimate offering from his repertoire of songs with The Last Ship and you can choose to either drop anchor and stay grounded or set sail with him in this rapturous vessel...''

Former Police frontman Sting is finally comfortable with the fact he is no longer able to write pop songs. He tells Julia Molony how a self-penned play helped him beat writer's block, and explains just who he sees when he looks in the mirror. Sting walks into the hotel boardroom bundled in a high-collared grey coat against the cold. His hair is tightly shorn, his clothing muted, his skin a soft beige. He only lives around the corner, he says, from the hotel in Westminster, and presumably has walked here. Except for the crop and a few more lines, he looks like he could have stepped out of the black and white video for Englishman in New York...