This “alternative” quintet has fans amongst rock royalty such as the U2 and the Velvet Underground’s John Cale, and is also a favourite amongst critics.
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However, this nod to their craft has never been converted into commercial acclaim, which is unfortunate because they certainly deserve a more prominent place in the musical landscape.
The
Seldom Seen Kid has a lovely feel, although listeners must be cautioned about the sudden horn blast that kicks in about 20 seconds (and intermittedly thereafter) into the opening track
Starlings. Startling, more like, but that doesn’t detract from the song’s subtle melody.
Once again, Guy Garvey is a lyricist of a generation, whose Lancashire accent shines through his delivery. Who can’t love a lyric like “There’s a hole in my neighbourhood down which of late I cannot help but fall” from
Grounds For Divorce (which can be heard on the Coen Brother’s latest effort
Burn After Reading).
Standout tracks for me include the aforementioned guitar-driven Grounds for Divorce, as well as
Weather to Fly,
The Bones of You (which borrows elements from Gershwin’s
Summertime) and
One Day Like This. However, the whole album has a feel about it that on a few play throughs, leaves melodies in your head long after you’ve turned the CD off.
