On Melancholy Byway

Back in September 2002 Arab Strap-member Malcolm Middleton made his solo debut with the funky titled "5:14 Fluoxytine Seagull Alcohol John Nicotine" album. Musically it wasn't such a big departure from the sound of Arab Strap, unlike his partner Aidan Moffat who cranked out the electronic dance record "Hypnogogia", under the alias Lucky Pierre, the same year. But it was still distinctly different, in its melancholy.


















Almost three years later, in June 2005, Malcolm launched his second solo effort on Chemikal Underground. This time with a simpler title: "Into The Woods". But musically as naked and melancholic as the first album.

I've had this CD for a few weeks now. It's been a slow grower but has now reached classic proportions. It's an album full of good lyrics and melodies, largely based on acoustic instruments but from time to time with more orchestration. And with Malcom's very distinct Scottish accent, this album is the perfect retreat for people tired of plastic pop, overproduced stadium rock and synthetic dance.

The album opens with the song "Break my heart" where Malcolm says it bluntly

I'd rather have you,
than sing these shit songs anymore.

And from there it goes straight down Melancholy Byway, with the quiet piano-based "Devastation". But he's good at changing speed and rhythm; on "Loneliness Shines" he returns full of energy, whith whining organs, and on "No Modest Bear" he includes a keyboard and some fuzzy synth to make the album's most upbeat song. But overall the acoustic melancholy dominates, such as the Arab Strap-like song "Monday Night Nothing". And on "A happy medium", perhaps the best song on the album, he soberly sings

Woke up again today,
realize I hate myself.
My face is a disease.

On "Solemn Thirsty", where he performs a lovely duet with an unnamed female singer, the sound is more reminiscent of The Cure's "Disintegration"! The album ends with the upbeat "A New Heart", almost like The Pogues on speed, giving it am overall good feeling.

All in all, I find "Into The Woods" to be a great album that I will cherish for a long time to come.

More information about the album and the artist is available at www.malcolmmiddleton.co.uk.