• Band / Artist : Jacob Jeffries Band – mySpace
• Genre : Rock / Pop
• Sample Track Download : Fairfax Diner
• Buy CD : CD Baby
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 9 out of 10

It was immediately apparent upon hearing the Jacob Jeffries Band (JJB) for the first time, that here was something very special. I have my friends over at the BinaryStarcast podcast for steering me in JJB’s general direction. It wasn’t long after here them for the first time, that I was seeking some review material and I was not disappointed. First time around I secured a pre-release EP, which later morphed into what we have here. This is the first of three EP releases. These 5 tracks comprise of acoustic tracks, with the second EP being made up of studio material and the third EP consisting of live material.

This EP, is slightly more laid back than some of the other JJB material I’ve heard. Keep an ear out for the fantastic track Wonderful, probably coming on the next EP. The 5 tracks here are more sedate and mellow, but don’t let that fool you, the vocal performance of Jacob Jeffries is sensational and at times electrifying. The title track opens with piano and immediately George Michael’s track “Mother’s Pride” came to mind. The more the track unfolded, the more this similarity burned into my subconscious. No matter your views on George Michael as a person, there’s no denying his Listen Without Prejudice album will go down as a classic, and I think this EP sows the seeds for JJB to go onto similarly great things.

“Fairfax Diner” is a pleasant track, but I can’t help but feel it would have been more at home on an album, rather than an EP. It has a wonderful feel to it, but I just feel it would work much better with some more content around it. “And I Say” also has a strong George Michael feel to it and I can’t help but wonder if this is more intentional, rather than accidental. Not that I’m hinting at plagiarism, as this track more than stands up on it’s own two feet, it’s just I can’t help but wonder if Jacob has come across this album in his musical travels.

“Old Friend” very much leads the album to a near conclusion. It’s hard to quantify, but this is very much a track that you expect on the tail end of a release. My only question was how is this EP going to end? In the end, “Getting There” the final track, draws the EP to an end in style.

Conclusion : This isn’t the EP I was expecting as I’d heard a few more upbeat and pumping tracks from JJB. However I was pleasantly surprised. The thing that is most apparent, apart from the great music is the vocals of Jacob Jeffries. Here lies a talent that should scorch a path to the top. Great things start with a first step and this is one helluva step.

• Band / Artist : Vel Omarr – mySpace
• Genre : Soul / R&B / Blues
• Sample Track Download : Feels Like Love
• Buy CD : CD Baby
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 7.5 out of 10

I’ve got to admit, were I in a record shop looking to pick up a new CD, the cover of this would have me running a mile. No disrespect to Vel Omarr, but this cover, which to my mind, is a little cheesy, just does not do justice to the great music contained within. Now regular readers of Indie Launchpad, are probably going to be surprised by this albums inclusion, however I’ve been a big soul fan for many years and used to be a complete nut for the old Motown classics, so when I heard one of Vel’s tracks on Lynn Parson Red Light Zone podcast, my ears pricked up a little and suddenly those memories came flooding back, which is just the kind of nudge I need to find out more.

There’s 11 tracks on the album, with 3 of those being cover songs, although none of these were immediately recognisable to me. The album opens with “How Can I Make You Mine”, and you can almost hear Barry White’s voice singing a top the airy strings. When Vel’s vocals do kick in, you can’t help but compare them to Sam Cooke, vocals that are smooth and eminently listenable. “Hurry Back Home” continues this great sound. This is one of my favorite tracks on the album and the style on the album that I feel most comfortable with. “Feels Like Love” is the track I first heard on Lynn’s podcast and at just over 5 minutes, one of the longest. It’s an interesting track that seems to go on forever. This is one of those tracks you can imagine dancing to with your partner in some tropical climate and then just leading them off to the bedroom, I can almost imagine it being used in some movie scene.

“Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day” is the first of the three covers and this is where we’re first introduced to the brass section. I’m not sure if it’s real brass, but my suspicious are that it’s not. These suspicious are further endorsed when the track ends. It’s a real shame, as this is a great track, that is pretty much spoiled by the brass. The song also has a very lame ending, which is something akin to a cabaret act. “Trouble Blues” is the second cover and as the name implies is more blues than soul. Again this is not a cover I’m familiar with, but this version has some fantastic qualities and is up there with my favorites on the album. “That’s All That Matter To Me” is again a more bluesy track and while I like what Vel’s done with it, I much prefer the more soul inspired tracks.

“Baby Please Come Home” is the final cover and while I can’t quite place it, it does sound somewhat familiar. The feel of this track, reminds me a lot of Otis Reading and I can just imagine a few keyboard embellishments here and there, as used on “Tenderness”. “Lover’s Deja Vu” didn’t really appeal to me. Again I’m not sure if the drums here are real or electronic, but there’s something that sounds very artificial about them, consequently I found myself, listening more for those and less for the song itself, which is a shame. “Stay Where You Are” has that authentic soul sound, but there’s just something about it that didn’t gel with me. This was also true of the following blues/rock track “Al’s Sugar Shack”, which just didn’t really do anything for me. I think some of this is because it stood out too much from the rest of the tracks, I also wasn’t a huge fan of the keyboards. With regard to the keyboards, the same can be said for the last track, “I Believe I’m Falling in Love”.

This is an album that starts off very strong and tends to straggle somewhat towards the end. There’s enough here to really enjoy, even though there’s some tracks that are not quite to my liking.

Conclusion : This is a nice collection of songs, especially for listening to while snuggled up with the one you love. The only minor concerns I have is at times, the brass featured on some of the tracks sounds a little too artificial and a couple of the arrangements sound like they wouldn’t be too out of water, sung by some lounge act. That aside, this is a genre of music, that doesn’t get the exposure it deserves and there are some fantastic tracks here.

• Band / Artist : Naama Hillman – mySpace
• Genre : Americana / Rock / Folk
• Sample Track Download : I’ll Be Home
• Buy CD : N/A
• Buy Digital Download : Free Download
• Rating : 7.5 out of 10

While I have many relationships with artists, labels and PR/Communications companies, there’s nothing quite like the buzz of finding music by myself. Admittedly this is often helped by the many podcasts I listen to, and one in particular, the DarkCompass podcast is where I discovered Naama Hillman, who was being interviewed at the Goldhawk Sessions. I immediately like what I heard and when she mentioned the free EP on her website, it wasn’t long before I had it in my possession.

The EP is made up of 5 tracks, including one which was a very nice surprise. The first track “Falling” reminded me of Tracey Chapman. Now at first you may think this is a little out there, but there is just something in Naama’s phrasing that is really similar. On MySpace Naama describes one of her genres as Americana, a genre I always have trouble with. I understand what it’s meant to be, but many times, I just can’t make the comparison. When “Let’s Go Out Tonight”, Americana wasn’t my first thought, but another certain American, Jewel was. This is very much a compliment, both feature strong vocals and acoustic guitars. I kind of forgot about Jewel, many years ago, but the similarities hit me like a shovel in the face.

The next track is probably my favorite, which is surprising as it’s a cover, where the original is one I’ve never really liked that much, the unofficial theme tune of Preparation ‘H’, that old Johnny Cash favorite, “Ring of Fire”. OK, everyone’s heard the jokes before, but I just can’t help adding to them. Comedy aside, this is a stark rendition and a very beautiful one at that. It was certainly one I played a good half a dozen times, the first time I put the EP on and one I’ve played on it’s own a few times since.

“Glory” is probably my least favorite track on the EP, as it feels a little busy and I couldn’t quite focus on it. Rounding of the EP is “I’ll Be Home”. The Jewel sound is very distinct on this track and it’s a very nice track to end things with.

Conclusion : While I don’t think there is enough on this EP to really allow it to shine, I can at least see a huge potential here and will be looking into Naama’s work a little more. Certainly as a free download, this is a cracking bargain and I’m sure one that many people will enjoy immensely.

• Band / Artist : Brooke Fraser – mySpace
• Genre : Folk Pop / Pop
• Sample Track Download : Shadowfeet
• Buy CD : Amazon
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 8.5 out of 10

I love how great music sometimes comes back on you, even when you seem to hit an obstacle. So was the case with Brooke Fraser. Based on a user recommendation from Australia, I checked out this New Zealand native, but at the time, she was on a major label, so I thought little of it and continued to scout for other artists. Fast forward over a year and I got an unsolicited submission from one of the PR/communications companies I work closely with. I had a quick listen, and although little alarms were ringing in my head, it wasn’t until I started writing this review and doing a little research, that I realised Brooke was the artist I’d looked into all that time ago.

I have to admit, whilst I really love this album, at first, it came across as a bit too pop for me. I immediately had visions of other singers upon hearing the first song, “Shadowfeet”, names like Celine Dion and Shania Twain. Indeed Shania Twain comes to mind, with many of the songs here, as while there is no directly country influences, there is just something about the style of songwriting that comes across as similar. “Deciphering Me”, is much more my style of track and indeed this is where you begin to hear Brooke’s vocals smolder and the pop side of the album starts to fade.

“Love is Waiting” is definitely a track more to my tastes. It’s long intro and basic arrangement, prove a wonderful vehicle for Brooke’s vocals. “Albertine” is an interesting title track, in that it has a flavour all it’s own. This is very much the style I’d like to see Brooke develop and move away from the more conventional pop style. I can hear tiny fragments here and there that remind me of Jennifer Warnes and even Suzanne Vega, albeit a much more produced variant. This to where I began to get really excited. The following track, “C.S. Lewis Song” reinforced this even more, but here I couldn’t help wanting to hear a more raw version of Brooke’s vocals. The song has a great production, but I just get an inkling that there lies a much more complex and to my mind more interesting voice waiting to break out.

That old cliche of being like an onion, really does hold up here. The further the album progress, the more you feel like there’s another side of Brooke exposing itself. “Faithful” is a track, that I’d say for the first time we begin to hear Brooke’s real voice. This is where I began to feel that she was singing to me and when a song begins to reach out to you in that way, you know that you’ve found something special. I would love to hear Brooke sing this live, with some minimal accompaniment. The further you get into the album, the more that pop overcoat is cast aside, no more so than on the track “Seeds”, with it’s very mystical intro and the wonderful acoustic guitar throughout. The only slight criticism here, is that I felt the mix was slightly off and I felt Brooke’s vocals were at times competing with everything else happening on the track. With “Hosea’s Wife”, that pop influence is back, but this is more intelligent, mature pop and I actually got lost in this track a few times.

The final two tracks on the album gives us a something a little more downbeat, but in my mind, this is just what this album needs to draw it to a fitting close. “The Thief” is one of those tracks that’s stark, almost melancholic, but there’s a real beauty, with some great synthesizer lying oh so delicately underneath, giving the track a wonderful atmosphere. “Hymn” is the final track and again, a very simple piano arrangement to accompany Brooke’s vocals, with some great strings interjecting here and there.

Conclusion : While this is certainly not an album that I would have gone out to purchase, based on the few tracks available on MySpace, it is most definitely one I am glad I had the fortune to really get to listen to. If you can overcome the strong pop overtones that are present in the first few tracks, what you have left are some fantastic arrangements and above all else an amazing voice, that really shines.

• Band / Artist : Maggie Walters – mySpace
• Genre : Pop
• Sample Track Download : N/A
• Buy CD : Artist Store
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 8 out of 10

The thing that really intrigued my about this CD was the ethnic overtones that are instantly apparent. Unfortunately for all the ethnic overtones, it can’t hide that fact that the opening track, “Fingerprints” is also pretty forgettable. Maggie has a great voice, but this track really seems to lumber along. “Ann Marie” again has some very interesting sounds and here everything seems to kick into gear. Maggie’s vocals have an unnerving sexiness to them. This track however is still only a warm up, it just gets better and better.

“Girls Like Us” has a funky, almost 60’s psychedelic feel. The first three tracks, have distinctly different flavours, but the one thing they have in common is a wonderful production. There’s just all sorts of audio nuggets lightly buried, waiting to be discovered. The vocals here are also a bit racy and at times frank, but they work really well and you just can’t help but get lulled by the driving guitar and wonderful touches. “Under the Table” is one of my highlights on the album, along with “Girls Like Us”, it’s also a track that suddenly brought to mind a wonderful vocalist, but the name just wouldn’t come to me. It took me a couple of listens before I slapped my forehead and remembered, Natalie Merchant, former 10,000 Maniacs singer.

“Captain” has that experimental edge to it, but oh those vocals and the mesmerizing tune, almost like a soundtrack to lovemaking. “Sundays” is a delightful track, but a track that really seeks attention, with it’s simple melody and accompaniment. It’s a track that has that instant repeat effect and one where you feel like you’re hanging on Maggie’s every word.

“Water Signs” for me is a bit of a pot boiler, pleasant, but nothing more. I could see how “Be Careful Love” was going to unfold, only hearing the first seconds. A very country feel, with just the merest hint of something more progressive. I was expecting much of the title track, “Midwestern Hurricane” and not just in song length, which here was a tad over 5 minutes. Whilst I liked the ebb and flow of the track, it never really blew me away, which is something I was sort of expecting. The final track “You Got Something” rounds things off nicely, albeit with a track length that screams the perfect single size, at a tad over 2 minutes.

Conclusion : This for me is an album, that starts off slow, but really comes into it’s own. It did take me a while to really get into it as a complete work, but Maggies is a voice I could listen to for an eternity, as long as it’s singing the right songs. Certainly an interesting album, with some great audio production and a few stellar tracks. Whilst there is nothing particularly bad on this album, there’s a few tracks that didn’t gel with me, but more than enough tracks to make up for it.

This is a user submitted review and does not reflect the opinions or views of Indie Launchpad…. even though we loved the album too.

Submitted by Ian Taylor

• Band / Artist : The Weepies – mySpace
• Genre : Pop / Rock / Acoustic
• Sample Track Download : N/A
• Buy CD : Werkshop
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 8.5 out of 10

His longstanding listeners will remember Colin Meeks at Indie Launchpad ( www.indielaunchpad.com) enthusing about The Weepies previous phenomenal album Say I Am You way back in February 2006, and Ive been eagerly awaiting a new release from this talented duo. I think I managed to get my sticky mitts on the album before Mr Meeks for a change but he still managed to cram in a review before I submitted this tribute one in celebration of his 100th Podcast.

It was with mixed feelings of excitement and trepidation that I put the CD on, would it be as good as Say I Am You, which quickly became one of my all time favourite albums? In fact Steve Tannen and Deb Talan have to be held partly responsible not only for my membership of the Indielaunchpad Fan Club but also my ever increasing collection of CDs! Would it be worth the two year wait?

I loved the design of the 2006 CD and the theme carried through to The Weepies great website, which has now received a makeover (care of Deb) to coordinate with the new whale CD artwork. Turning to the music itself we have 14 varied tracks making it cracking value, albeit the first five come in a tad short at just under three minutes. The problem I have is that so far non stands out quite as well as Gotta Have You or Painting by Chagall, or Stars. Im sure this album is a grower though or perhaps it is because the quality is so good and consistent that its hard to choose a favourite.

I was going to review each track but Colin has pipped me at the post! As far as the whole album goes, like Colin, I have a soft spot for female vocalists and Deb has an outstanding and unique voice. Steves quiet tones meanwhile remind me on some songs of Paul Simon. In both cases we have clear, crisp voices that clearly compliment each other, coupled with the intelligent lyrics. Theres a certain narrative/filmic quality to the words and some of the tracks would fit very comfortable as a soundtrack to a film or TV show, and I mean that as a compliment and not in a background noise way. How about the closing credits for an episode of the quirky 90s show Northern Exposure? Id struggle to pick out my favourite track, All Good Things is great, Orbiting is also excellent, Old Coyote swings along nicely, and is this really the first time I have heard the catchy Takes So Long? Maybe I am changing my mind, this really is a great album.

I struggle to categorise The Weepies, folk it isnt and its too mellow for rock, who cares, its great stuff and I hate labels anyway. According to their website there are lots of who agree as the new album debuted at no.31 on the Billboard Charts, selling nearly 14,000 copies in its first week (13,999 plus one to Ian, Im not sure Colin paid for his!).

Conclusion: Hideaway would have been an outstanding first album, and Say I am You a phenomenal follow up, had they been issued in the other order. Have The Weepies just set themselves such a high standard that its difficult to beat? Has Ians ear been so finely tuned by Colin he knows what hes talking about (musically at least) or is he just so familiar with the first album? Will Colin Agree? Do you care?

Probably not, so my advice is buy it, hell, buy both albums and judge for yourselves, whichever you think is best you wont have wasted any money; they are both very, very good.

Posted in Folk, Pop and 100th podcast celebration!
Surely this beats a telegram from The Queen?

Hey All. Haven’t forgotten. Right at the last minute I decided to do a different show and am just waiting to hear back regarding permissions on some tracks. Hoping to release in the next day or so, with some cracking new music.

Colin

• Band / Artist : Sheltered in Sound – mySpace
• Genre : Down-Tempo / Acoustic
• Sample Track Download : Welcome to Generica
• Buy CD : CD Baby
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 8.5 out of 10

As I sat listening to this CD, it was hard for me to know where to start. There’s a real starkness of emotion, overlaid an equally stark musical backdrop. While I wasn’t immediately sure what to make of it, I found myself like a deer in the headlights, with an impending collision awaiting, however as the lights got closer, the danger was replaced with an open embrace, a turnaround that that happened, oh so quickly.

Although I’ve had this album a good few weeks, it was an album I knew I had to invest some time in. Family life is a wild and complex ride, so fitting in some laid back, “starkly intimate” music, can often be a challenge. Don’t get me wrong, I could well have put this album on and let the music wash over me, but then I wouldn’t have had much to write about, apart from the rather pleasant listening experience.

I’ve listened to this album a good few times. From my car stereo, to my home stereo and computer, but it’s only now that while giving myself a refresher on the tracks, that I was blown away by how it sounds on my laptop. Not that it didn’t sound great before, but there’s just something that really seems to be stroking my laptop speakers the right way. Opening with “Falling Stars”, there was a lot that reminded me of Rob Szabo, maybe not too surprising when you consider that both Rob’s album, “Like a Metaphor” and this album were produced by Scott Cooper, long time favorite of Indie Launchpad and a guy who really knows how to fiddle with those buttons to get an incredible final mix.

Some of the songs on this album, bare comparison to either Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen, but more in their heyday as opposed to their current incarnations. Musically also the songs here are much softer, more reserved, but no less powerful for it. “Held Hostage by a Restless Heart”, I can almost hear in my head, coming from the mouth of Springsteen, but as mentioned earlier, here there’s much more softness, almost fragility. “We’ll Meet Again”, is a much more conventional acoustic/folk song, but again the sound quality and production shine through, especially the cello, or is it sampled cello, that floats wistfully beneath.

It’s almost all glorious perfection. I say almost as the only track that managed to sour things somewhat for me is “Sleepwalking”. From the reverb on the vocals, to the lacklustre guitar and the really grating drum machine that drove me nuts, every time the track came on, I wanted to hit the next button. In the big picture it’s not a terrible track, just a track that most definitely was not my cup of tea. Now “Mir” had me won over almost immediately. There’s nothing radically out of the ordinary, it’s just in keeping with the rest of the album, and just a track that manages to tick all my boxes. When hearing the first couple of seconds of “No Words”, with it’s drum machine effect, I thought I was going to hate this track, but thankfully the drum machine is fended off for the remaining three minutes or so, and we’re left with another winner.

“Welcome to Generica” has a slightly different sound to the accompanying songs, but it’s refreshingly different and giving another edge to the album. “Requiem in A Flat Minor”, again has a different sound, which while I was glad for a bit of diversity, something about it didn’t click. Were it not for the last track’s title and lyrics, the final two tracks “In Birth and Death” and “One Last Song” would have rounded things off much better had they been swapped. Now this may well be one of my quirks, but unless it’s something compelling, I much prefer a darker, more sombre track to end an album such as this.

Conclusion : Whilst this is an album on the darker, more melancholic side, it’s not at all doom laden. There’s an amazing, almost compelling quality to the songs, that really draws you in and keeps you transfixed. A wonderful album, from an undeniably gifted musician, who I’ll be paying close attention to in the future.

• Band / Artist : The Weepies – mySpace
• Genre : Pop / Rock / Acoustic
• Sample Track Download : N/A
• Buy CD : Werkshop
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 9.5 out of 10

There’s a few albums I’ve been eagerly awaiting and this most definitely is one of them. Building on the success of their previous release, Say I Am You, Hideaway, feels much more of a joint album. Whilst Hideaway, had some amazing tracks, there was very much a feeling that many of the tracks were either Steve Tannen’s or Deb Talan’s. Admittedly much of this stems from who had lead vocals, and I have to admit, I was totally smitten by Deb’s voice. However on this album, the vocals, whilst still featuring either Deb or Steve prominently, manage to sound much more of a collaborative effort. It’s hard to think of the previous album, as anything inferior, but there is a lushness and warmth in this album, that the previous one lacks, but only in hindsight.

“Can’t Go Back Now”, the track that opens the album, quite frankly sends shivers up my spine. While the sound is typical Weepies, there’s something more, that’s hard to quantify, other than an feeling of a band that has really found it’s feet. “Orbiting”, while having very much a Deb Talan sound, still manages to feel a band effort. At every turn, on every track, I feel myself comparing, probably unfairly all tracks to the previous album, which in my mind is one of the top 10 albums ever on Indie Launchpad, but this is not like comparing apples to apples, they’re two albums, by the same artists, at two very different stages of their developmental life. The title track “Hideaway”, has that quirky feel and harmonies that send my brain into apoplexy, especially when listen with headphones. That tone and those vocals are just a sheer joy.

So that’s the first three tracks and I can feel this review very rapidly heading to meet Tolstoy’s War and Peace in sheer size. Yes musically the tracks are superb, but there’s also quite a mix of diversity. The guitar on “Little Bird”, is really familiar, but I’m sure on a track much more melancholic than this. Then in contrast to that, “Antarctica” has a sound that feels very light with a 70’s hint, but with a Weepies twist. It was only when listening to “How You Survived the War” that an artist suddenly sprang to mind and one that I’m surprised hasn’t surfaced before, the Carpenters. Few vocalist in my mind, have managed to sound so wondrous vocally and it’s something the Weepies manage, without sounding like they’re breaking a sweat.

Even as the album draws to an end, the strength of the songs is incredible. “Takes So Long”, reminds me of a song we used to sing as kids, and I couldn’t help but smile when I first heard it, in fact a smile seems to break, whenever this track comes on. I think for me, the most surprising track on this album, is the one that closes things out, “All This Beauty”, which is an amazingly strong song, which could easily have opened the album. 14 tracks that are an absolute joy to listen to.

Conclusion : Just sheer magic. I have to admit, while previously having a strong affinity for Deb’s vocals, I’m now enjoying Steve’s much more than before. If you liked the previous Weepies album, buying this is pretty much a no brainier. If you are new to the Weepies, this is an amazing album to add to your collection, especially if you like the mellower side of pop. Although I’ve marked this as a 9.5, it’s very much a 10 out of 10, in theory anyway. I just have to leave room for improvement… if that were possible.

• Band / Artist : Daniel Ledwell – mySpace
• Genre : Folk / Pop
• Sample Track Download : N/A
• Buy CD : N/A
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 9 out of 10

Sometimes I feel like beating my head against a wall, as I occassionaly find new music almost accidentally. In some cases this shouldn’t be so, as I’ve previously reviewed the band Daniel Ledwell is in, In-Flight Safety before on Indie Launchpad, actually back in April of 2006. Although recordingwise, things with the band are quiet, Daniel released this 7 track album in January and it’s an incredible collections of songs. I only found out about Daniel’s solo work, via the CBC Radio 3 New Music Canada podcast, otherwise I fear it may have evaded my radar totally. Although this is advertised as an album, I’m loathe to call it that, as at just a tad over 24 minutes, a little light for an album. The 7 tracks on here though are an just amazing, so I’ll let it slide.

Two Over Seven is “seven songs about the bad, bad things that happen to our hearts”, consequently this is not an album to get you dancing, unless it’s on the prostrate body of someone who’s broken your heart. To call these tracks melancholic, is a bit of an understatement, but there is just an amazing beauty in the sadness and despair. Opening with “Daisy, You Are a Liar”, I was instantly enamoured with both the sad and almost despondent vocals, and the wonderful minimalist accompaniment, which really allows the misery and hurt to bubble away. “Little River Run” is a very similar track, as is “New Flame” and to be frank, I could listen to this kind of sorrow for ages as it’s always a delight when it’s not your own.

“I Have Made You a Mixtape” is the track that brought Daniel to my attention, and it’s just a wonderful example of melancholic pop, signing off with a stunning kick in the teeth. Simply delightful. “Gone for Good” is probably the weakest track on the album, although I think some of that is down to playing in the aftermath of “I Have Made You a Mixtape”. “Writing You Out” bares similar musical traits to “I Have Made You a Mixtape”, both in the melody and delivery, but manages to tell a story all it’s own. Track 7 is the appropriately named “Goodnight Goodnight” and all too quickly it’s over.

I have to admit, this was one of those albums I threw into the CD player at home, and within seconds managed to burst the family happiness bubble. OK, maybe a slight exaggeration, but it’s certainly not the kind of album to get the party started. That being said, once I managed to find some quiet time to listen, I loved every minute of it.

Conclusion : A great album, with the jewel in the crown, appearing dead centre of the album. If you like the melancholic side of music, Leonard Cohen, Morrissey, Black, you’ll love this.

Postscript : When running this review through the spell checker, Daniel’s name obviously was flagged and I hit the change button a couple of times by mistake, before realising. When I looked back, Daniel Ledwell had been changed to “Denial Lethal”, could that be a sign.