It's Only A Love Song

Glasgow-based multi-instrumentalist putting together the richest, lushest 1970s-styled orchestral pop you'll hear; this release snuck up on me, at first, it sounds almost too absurd, too delicate (even wimpy?), but it commits to the high romanticism of the Hi-Fi age so damn well, and a heaven-bestowed dedication to fine songcraft, that once you're on its wavelength, it's impeccable

RIYL: Belle and Sebastian, Beirut, The Beach Boys, Van Dyke Parks, Julee Cruise, Mel Torme


1. (4:05) **** Gentle, elegant piano, into thick shag-carpetted soft rock, hushed but insistent mid-tempo; ends in bittersweet strings
2. (3:42) ***** buoyant burgundy organ, deep syruppy crooning (string backing), simple and sing-songy but bittersweet in mood
3. (3:13) ***** Agitated piano; high-gothic (hunchback of notre dame?) atmosphere with swooning swings and haunted waltz airs
4. (3:01) ** Gently hypnotic piano, hesitating (lost?) vocals in a swallowed, watery swirl
5. (3:29) ***** sweetly wailing chorus, dense and hypnotic sound; chorus expands into a rich, sweet lush rec room flavor, at gates of heaven by end
6. (3:29) ****** Catchy, lush '70s tv drama/comedy theme flavor, with hooky "think about it, think about it" chorus; soaring and sophisticated and bittersweet
7. (3:52) ***** Brisk and knowing and romantic rhythm amid a thick rainstorm of glittering magic, into relatively staid chorus; instrumental break at end
8. (3:36) **** Insistent but morose tone over aching strings
9. (3:35) ****** Swirling, brisk tupperware-party air to start, everything rich and hypnotic, and also yearning, in a strange Pee Wee Herman-meets-ABBA way
10. (1:13) ** Brief reprise of track 1, but in a stripped-down gospel style; pretty, but short
11. (5:18) ***** Piano and slow, weepy, stately, weepy, tempo; almost a graduation march in tone, except a weeping one with lush, lush strings; last minute is a minimalist piano (+ghost chorus) solo