RHUM

Fyfe Dangerfield, best known as the lead singer from avant garde rockers The Guillemots, reportedly recorded this, his first solo record, in five days. He was in love and wanted to capture the moment. I guess that’s what really separates the ‘haves’ from the ‘have nots’, because, you know, whenever I’ve felt first smug flashes of internal gooeyness I tend just to be in a good mood for a while and drink less (or is that drink more? I can’t remember. It definitely had some affect on my alcohol consumption). Not produce a whole album.

If Fly Yellow Moon was cathartic in its conception it is by no means reticent in its realisation. These are not mere musical sketches, more like McCartney-esque acoustics odes and ballads, with the odd clanking-piano-cords-and-big-strings singalong thrown in to lighten the mood. Certainly, some of the productions are a little raw, but this undercooked feel stops it getting too sickly.

That isn’t to say that Dangerfield doesn’t get sappy – he does. Very sappy. Cringingly sappy in places. But his innate quirkiness and sense of innovation never lets Fly Yellow Moon get formulaic or overtly crass. It’s all very heartfelt and stirring with genuine emotion and this really feels like an album of love songs written by someone in love, not some radio-friendly by the numbers wank off.

I think that Fly Yellow Moon is best described as an album that has its moments. Dangerfield is blessed with a highly creative mind, and this sudden rush of inspiration drew him to the studio to express himself the best way he could. Personally, I doubt all twelve of these songs were written and recorded in that short a time. It seems far more likely at least some of these were commercial off-cuts from The Guillemots’ forthcoming album. But the romanticism of the sentiment makes a nice headline.

3/5 stars

Standout Tracks: When You Walk In The Room, Livewire, Any Direction

Fly Yellow Moon is out now through Rogue Records/Intertia Recordings