n IT IS now some seven years since One Dove released their debut album, Morning White Dove, to a hail of critical and (to a lesser extent) public approval, which makes the eventual release, later this month, of singer Dot Allison's solo album, Afterglow, seem incredibly overdue, especially in the light of the appetising singles, Mo Pop and Message Personnel.

If seven years between albums seems to indicate levels of productivity on a par with the Blue Nile or The La's, then it is worth bearing in mind that One Dove recorded a second album, which was never released and coincided with the record company problems that provoked their demise, and that Dot also spent the best part of a year out of action from injuries after a serious car crash.

''It's not really that late,'' she protests. ''The album was due to come out in May, but there were a lot of changes going on at Heavenly (the record label) and above which meant it had to be put back. It did mean, however, that I had a chance to live with the album and go back to it and make the odd adjustment.''

This meant some additional work on the new single, Close Your Eyes, which producer Stephen Lironi feels may enhance its chances of chart success, and a summer in which she was able to fine tune her live performances, with a headline tour in May and a few festival appearances, with string quartet in tow, over the summer.

Her next shows are supporting Arab Strap, who provided a memorable remix of Message Personnel, her last single.

''I was really blown away with what they did to the song,'' she admits, ''which makes it great to be going out on tour with them. I have also had a chance over the past few months to deconstruct the live show and put it back together again. Unfortunately, the string quartet is a luxury we can only afford for the bigger shows, so they won't be out on tour, but I am much more confident about the live set-up now.''

n Dot Allison's single Close Your Eyes is out on October 4; she supports Arab Strap at the Mitchell Theatre next Wednesday.