Ben Watt’s current musical direction may not be overly electronic, but it is still well worth following. His songwriting craft is both effortless and meaningful, and brings a human clarity to songs like the expressive ‘Gradually’ and ‘Winter’s Eve’. When on the latter he sings of how there is ‘still so much I want to do’ it brings thoughts of his diagnosis with a life-threatening illness in 1992, but also has a strong implication of Tracey Thorn on backing vocals – even though she is not there. The icing on the cake for this album is the sensitive prodding of Bernard Butler’s guitar, which adds an ever thoughtful counterpoint to Watt’s understated vocal in songs like Between Two Fires. In doing so he completes a record that reeks of regret but has enough craft to work in consolation too.
4 out of 5
Reviewed by Ben Hogwood
