Sam Genders’ second album as Diagrams continues his progression since leaving Tunng – though it should be said it also finds him turning towards an acoustic approach once again. The format is relatively familiar, as Genders has a good eye for a tune and a lyric, so ‘Chromatics’ is laden with winsome songs about life, love and a few more quirky things besides. What Genders does really well is to write tunes that stick in your head, so that after a few spins ‘Chromatics’ takes root like a regular visitor. It might not always have lasting substance, as sometimes the songs feel a little lightweight, but it certainly works as an antidote to the January blues.
3 out of 5
Reviewed by Ben Hogwood
