The absence of guitars certainly lends itself to some pretty innovative musicianship. With a piano as the only traditional driver of melody, it's a record that strides with purpose in some places and meanders through empty space in others, recalling the woozy emotions of Radiohead, Talk Talk or even Massive Attack. A highlight is the swooning '
Moon's Opera' (which Weeks is currently working on an accompanying short storybook for), or '
None Too Tough', whose joyful trumpets frame the ascent out of 'cloudy days', finally ticking the proverbial boxes that Weeks sung about so many years ago. For the frontman of one of indie's most beloved guitar bands, it's a clever way to separate himself from the musical palette that came before, to forge something anew.
