Glasgow-born and London-based songwriter Oisean Burnett has a fine way with a melodic guitar line and his voice just touches on the melancholic side of heartfelt. His first album as Starter Car finds him drawing a group of players together from the capital to do fine justice to Afterlight‘s ten songs of life’s beauty in hardship and wry romanticism.
For me there is something in the melodic approach, the ringing guitars and personal lyrics that reminds me of the halcyon days of nineties guitar bands but with a modern twist, and with the addition of fiddle from Sophia Bartlett and banjo from Michael Rea pushing things in a slightly more countrified direction.
With the number of people listed as players drifting from five to seven, this is an album that is as much about inclusion and generosity as it is about the minutiæ and sometimes sadness of the modern world. So although Oisean’s observations are often of a difficult nature, navigating through life’s ups and downs, the group is here to buoy him and ensure that the songs don’t descend into despair, although opener “Throwing Down” contains the line “I drink double when I’m not around you”. The presence of the banjo and the shape changing nature if the song means that there are good things peeking out at every turn.
A pretty electric guitar picks its way across the acoustic melody of “Avert”, and the textural brush of cymbals and added texture of sweet harmony vocals bring a smile to the face, while the tuning of a radio that opens “Safety Net” encapsulates the desires of the band. It feels as though these songs were written to be heard on car stereos up and down the country, windows wide open. I was reminded a little of the pure melancholy of the much-missed Wheat, who also managed to suffuse warmth and freedom with just a little tug of the heartstrings, and the lines “Linkous was right / Every outcome’s just a ferry I’ll ride” are particularly poignant.
The fiddle and guitar duet and descending vocal line on “Watered Down” contain a sweet sadness, while the violin-infused “Wisecrack” is more upbeat, the drums almost skiffle-like in their desire for progress. “More Me” is almost a gavotte in its rhythmic structure; and although they know how to vocally and lyrically tug at the heartstrings, they also know how to build to a satisfying crescendo, with all the players throwing their hat in for a rousing finale as the voices swoop and the volume increases.
There is a touch of J Mascis in the ear for melody; but there is something more inclusive about the end result, so the joyful and up -tempo “Know What To Say” nestles up to the tear-jerking solo acoustic exploration of “Stranger”, the additional violin bringing a surprising amount of power. The album ends with the great burst of energy “Kicking”, fiddle once again leading the charge and showing what an integral part of the line up it is.
Afterlight is a a lovely collection of songs from an impressive songwriter, and a young and talented group. As an introduction it shows them at their best and I look forward to hearing more.
-Mr Olivetti-
