The effortlessly talented Welshman, former Super Furry Animals frontman and all round nice guy returns with a gorgeously bittersweet album of wry humour and fabulous tunes inspired by the joys of writing about sad subjects. It’s very much made with a live band feel (particuilarly inspired by working with tuareg band Imarhan), though here with piano and soaring orchestral strings to the fore, sumptuous and yet catchily fluent. It’s packed with gems, the quietly tragic title track opening with in jaunty country style, but even more standouts come such the joyously upbeat but darkly humorous Bad Friend, an apology for imperfect reliability, full of great lines (“I’ll have your back for your panic attacks” but “You know I’m as reliable / As asking a seal to deliver the post.”) Former Song of the Day Celestial Candyfloss is inspired by the film The Triangle of Sadness, “an attempted pocket symphony about the cosmic lengths that people will travel in the pursuit of love and acceptance”. Silver Lining Lead Balloons about making bad things seem better through the superficial sheen of public relations, there’s a vivid dig at developers They Sold My House To Build a Skyscraper, and Cover The Cover Up is is a gently caustic call for political upheaval and change. There’s so much more here, each listen sounding fresher than ever with unfolding humour, insights and feelings. Sadness has rarely been sweeter. Out on Rough Trade.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Feel free to recommend more new albums and comment below. You can also use the contact page, or find more on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.
Song Bar is non-profit and is simply about sharing great music. We don’t do clickbait or advertisements. Please make any donation to help keep the Bar running: