Martin Dosh started out as a drummer according to his bio. That makes sense as the percussion here is of a tactile nature. Little tiny taps are given as much attention as the big kicks. Organizationally speaking, it is really a big draw of the album. Everything contributes to the rhythm, it kind of reminds me of some early Fridge or Four Tet kind of stuff, the way the drums feel so free.
Of course, this would mean nothing if it weren’t for the melodies they helped structure. Generally speaking, I enjoyed the longer songs on the album, where he had more space to roam. The melodies are sweet, caring, charming. They require some time and patience, but are ultimately worth the effort.
“Gare de Lyon”, which closes the disc, is easily my favorite. Here you get to see all the themes he explored earlier realized in full. Bits and pieces are added into the mix to create a spiffy little track. It is so good that after you listen to it, you might want to re-listen to the rest of the album. All those things that escaped you the first time around are made clear in the second listening.
Parts of this are so well done you don’t even notice them at first. “Yer face” shows off his talent for queasy piano. And his voice, though not perfect, adds a bit of grit and charm to his efforts.
I’m glad I randomly stumbled upon his recording, very glad indeed.