This second, very strong and striking LP by the couple duo of Blur guitarist Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougall strikingly embraces a variety of indie rock, synth pop and psyche-folk styles, again produced by James, and, as well as guitar, featured Coxon’s reborn love for the saxophone. That becomes prominent immediately on the opener and title track is reminiscent of David Bowie’s late-70s / Scary Monsters era. Coxon and Dougall clearly make a strong creative partnership, swapping singing duties successful across the album, and sometimes together in harmony, as on the dynamic second track, You Saw. Next up, Moth To The Flame has another 80s pop feel, with stomping heavy drum and bass and more heavy sax. The soaring love song I Belong To … brings in a slower, richer pop hue and orchestral string sounds along with synths, while Simple Days is a dream-like swoon of acoustic guitar and Dougall’s serene singing. But the real contrasts come between the punchy punk energy of the excellent Broken Boys, and the folky Song for Eliza May. Another highlight is the fabulous bassline, syncopated drumming, sax blasts and proggy organs of Druantia which builds and builds. Girl of The Endless Night revisits psych-folk, and closing track Sunrise crescendos into a glorious orchestral climax. Overall, a dynamic, innovative, release showing that Coxon, in tandem with his true love, again has so much more beyond Blur. Out on Transgressive Records.
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