Label: Sartorial
Released: April 29
Given that London-based star Westmoreland's last album 'Fabrications' (under the name The Bowling Green) was released on this blogger's own label Spiky, you can take it as read that yours truly is a big, big fan of his quirky, catchy productions.
'Wax & Wayne' is a definite change in direction for Micko, however. It's markedly different to his last two, mainly instrumental albums, and boasts not only all vocal tracks, but also sees the 'Velvet Goldmine' star himself singing. The standard of songwriting is excellent, with echoes of The Smiths, Beck, Bowie, Badly Drawn Boy and all manner of other maverick indie types. The lyrics, always reflective and often introspective too, are touching and unpretentious too.
The LP's best moments, however, are the times when this new style collides with the DIY funkiness of his older music. Single 'Darkness (Closes In)' is a true classic, ultra-catchy with a lilting guitar played off against understated breakbeat funk. Likewise 'Blue Thunder', opening tune 'The Aviator's Dream' and the more exotic sounding 'Apple Of Your Eye', topped off with a bossanova rhythm and sparky trumpet from Sartorial Records boss Terry Edwards (Gallon Drunk/Nick Cave). Heavenly Records' Ed Harcourt - whose band Westmoreland has been known to appear with - also returns the favour by adding electric piano to 'Apple...'
A big shift in creative direction, which probably made a change in name inevitable, but there's plenty of Micko's unmistakable personality and sparkle in evidence here.5/5
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