Album review: Prefab Sprout, Crimson/Red (Icebreaker)

 

Andy Gill
Thursday 03 October 2013 17:24 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

His first set of all-new material in 13 years finds Paddy McAloon working alone for the first time, writing and playing everything himself. Which may account for the slightly solipsistic tone, with many songs being about songwriters and, in "Devil Came a Calling", the Faustian pact of success which may have singed his sensibilities. "The Best Jewel Thief in the World" and "The Old Magician" portray composition as a stealthy process, while "The Songs of Danny Galway" and "Mysterious" offer loquacious homage to Jimmy Webb and Bob Dylan. But underpinning McAloon's exacting lyrics is music which suffers from similar deliberation and a pastel palette: even when scuttling nimbly, it's tasteful but a touch bloodless.

Download: The Best Jewel Thief in the World; The Old Magician; Mysterious

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in