The Mountain Goats
Days
(Cadmean Dawn)
⭑⭑⭑⭑☆

ACTIVE since 1991, US indie outfit The Mountain Goats are now on their 24th album.

Arguably one of the peaks of their recent output, Days finds their founder and frontman John Darnielle inspired and energised. Which is good news because he’s one of the greatest lyricists of his generation.

Loosely based on his memories from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, it’s The Mountain Goats at their most accessible. There’s lots of lovely moments, from the upbeat melancholy of The Postal Service-sounding title track (“Russian novels when you find the time… do you know how short the days are?”) to Last Day, with the bittersweet lines “The last day of your life will be sweet… keep a good thought in your mind.” Hidden Majesty Of Later Venon Albums echoes the most affecting moments on their much loved 2005 record The Sunset Tree.

Ed O’Brien
Blue Morpho
(Transgressive)
⭑⭑⭑⭑☆

AS a member of Radiohead for three decades, guitarist Ed O’Brien has been involved in making some of the most critically-acclaimed records in recent UK history – The Bends, OK Computer and Kid A.

Blue Morpho doesn’t reach these heights – what could? – but is nevertheless a hugely impressive solo album that deserves serious attention.

Though there are definite echoes of Radiohead, this is very much O’Brien’s singular musical vision, apparently born out of deep depression. The title track, named after a butterfly found in Brazil, is a striking achievement, running from Bryter Layter-strings to a layered soundscape and intoned, slightly oppressive vocals, while the grandiose closer Obrigado is a near 10-minute progressive rock journey that ends with towering guitar work.

Feeling largely instrumental and imbued with just the right level of mystery, this is much more than a side project.

YHWH Nailgun
Magazine
(4AD)
⭑⭑☆☆☆

FULL of discordant, often jarring playing and the death metal-style vocals of leadsinger Zack Borzone, the new record from the New York City-based experimental rock band YHWH Nailgun isn’t an easy listen.

And with 10 tracks finished in 11 minutes, it’s the shortest album I can think of.

With their name referring to the proper name of the Hebrew God, apparently unpronounceable by Jewish law, I’m not sure what to compare the set to – perhaps London’s now defunct Black Midi, though even they feel too mainstream?

While a set of short songs can work brilliantly – think of Minutemen’s 1984 hardcore punk magnum opus Double Nickels On The Dime – Magazine is an unsatisfactory listen for me. Many of the tracks feel half formed, with some interesting parts, like on the taut title track, cut short.

A strange, gnarly beast.