The nom de plume of London-based Mancunian jazz artist Angus Fairbairn returns with a mesmeric selection of 19 numbers, his intimate jittery saxophone embellished with a wider range of acoustic sounds, choral backing, and offbeat and inspiringly strange spoken word. Unstoppably warm, positive and also droll, with a live, spontaneous feel, it was recorded across 17 hours of sessions over two weeks between lockdowns during the summer of 2020 at his adopted favourite venue, Total Refreshment Centre in Hackney, east London. After the more instrumental first album, To Cy and Lee, his vocal style here echoes more of that excellently witty single with Soccer96 - I Was Gonna Fight Fascism, and this release is dotted with introspective, humorous, stream-of-consciousness, half-whispered lines. It’s something an expansion from previous work with added electronic and other instruments, but keeps that fresh, offbeat improvisational spirit (he doesn’t seem work in any other way) that is infused with his unique persona, as described at the start of his third song here, captured with an audience, proclaiming: ‘I am brazen like a baby, like the stupid sun, and I go forward in the courage of my love!” Other standouts include Don’t Forget You’re Precious, The World Is Mine, The Sound of My Feet is a Song to Your Spirit, I’m Gonna Say Seven, People: What’s the Difference?. I’m Good At Not Crying, and Who Is a Fool. A unique performer really finding his voice. Out on Lost Map Records / International Anthem.
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