Song, by Toad

See what you make of this lot.  In the interests of full disclosure I have to confess that Martin is a mate of mine and a thoroughly nice chap.  That said when this CD arrived at my door it did so anonymously, the sly bastard, so I listened to it innocently the first time through and really liked what I heard.

It’s dark and grumblesome – music very much informed by January’s slate-grey Scottish skies as you look out over the Firth of Forth.  Generally delicate, despite the gruffness of the delivery, it has all the charm of a sensitive soul who never quite finds the words to express himself as he would want.  That’s just the atmosphere of the music though: gently strummed guitars layered occasionally onto thrumming pianos as Martin’s Leonard Cohen-esque vocal rumbles over the top.   The lyrics themselves are actually very evocative indeed.  This shouldn’t really be surprising as he’s apparently a published poet, which was news to me I have to confess, but it all adds up to very superior quality stuff for such a DIY project.

All in all, this music broods along beautifully and has Scotland written all over it for some reason.  Who’d have thought a fuckwit like me would have so many talented mates.

The Savings & Loan -  The Virgin’s Lullaby
The Savings & Loan – Swallows

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