Sun Kil Moon 'April'

It has already been an amazing year for music and its still only March. It is one of those years when all of my favourite artists seem to be releasing records and I can hardly believe that already I have had albums to review by Tindersticks, American Music Club, Mountain Goats and Stephen Malkmus.

Just when things couldn't get better, Mark Kozelek releases a new record too. I've been a fan of Kozelek since his run of amazing albums with Red House Painters on 4AD in the early 90s. Since then, with the last RHP record (which was effectively Koz's first solo venture) and his first release as Sun Kil Moon, Kozelek has matured into a consumate singer songwriter. 2003's 'Ghosts of the Great Highway' was a simply magnificent record, mixing beautiful acoustic ballads with Neil Young styled guitar epics, it was the best album of Kozelek's career and a hard act to follow.

He has taken five years to do that. In between he has released a solo live album and an album of Modest Mouse covers that was a delight, probably to all but fans of the band he covered. 'April' though, is the true Sun Kil Moon follow up and is a quite formidable album, clocking in at 74 minutes and containing several ten minute songs. It is no album to play to anyone new to Kozelek's work and requires dedication and perseverance from the listener.

Like most of Mark's work it focuses on lyrical themes of memories, dreams and reminiscing. Ten minute opener 'Lost Verses' sees Kozelek wandering the streets of San Francisco looking in on old friends over a nagging acoustic melody.

"I haunt the streets of San Francisco
Watch over loved ones and old friends
I see them through their living room windows
Shaken by fear and worry
I want them to know how I love them so"

It sounds instantly familiar, maybe because it is seemingly a companion piece to 'Have You Forgotten' from RHP's 'Songs For a Blue Guitar'. It is beautifully played, unhurried and understated and a highlight.

'Lucky Man' is similarly evocative, this time describing the sights, sounds and memories of Kozelek's time growing up in Ohio. It begins a run of gentle songs with beautiful guitar playing and singing, including the love song 'Moorestown' and the haunting, mesmorising 'Heron Blue'.

The album changes direction slightly with 'Tonight The Sky', an astonishing ten minute riff-driven number, which sounds like Magnolia Electric Co and ends with a superb guitar drone/feedback section. It cannot be quite as good as the unbelievable 'Duk Koo Kim' from 'Ghosts of the Great Highway' but it is close. The mood changes again with 'Like The River', one of the shortest songs on the album and certainly the most country-sounding. It benefits from its simplicity though and from perfectly fitting backing vocals from Bonnie Prince Billy.

'Ghosts of the Great Highway' ended with spanish guitar on 'Si Paloma' and 'Pancho Villa' and this record does the same with closer 'Blue Orchids' which features a lovely instrumental section at the end.

I haven't mentioned every song here and in truth a couple of the mid pace songs such as 'The Light' and 'Tonight In Bilbao' lag a little but there is certainly no filler here. 'April' is an extremely well written record and is in fact something of a singer-songwriter masterclass. It requires several listens before the melodies and lyrics start to unravel and the songs become familiar but listeners will be rewarded for their dedication as this is the work of an accomplished songwriter not afraid to take risks. Kozlelek has produced a stunning set of songs here that will stand the test of time.

9.0

'April' is out now on digital download from Calo Verde Records and out on Monday on CD.