Former Grant Lee Buffalo frontman, Grant-Lee Phillips' solo career had been frustratingly inconsistent thus far. Ten years in and the highlight was still his understated debut solo EP 'Ladies Love Oracle'. From there on he has produced a fairly wide range of styles but whilst each album has had something to recommend it, each has been let down either by poor production, a lack of strong songs or in the case of 2007's 'Strangelet' a lack of any interesting lyrical or musical ideas at all. After last year's nadir, a woefully inessential album of 80s covers, he returns with his fourth solo album of original songs.
'Little Moon' was written and recorded quickly, with a four-piece band and consequently of all Phillips' albums it is the most natural and 'live' sounding. Recent efforts have suffered under the weight of a good deal of studio-trickery and over-production but the sound here is fresh with plenty of room for the songs to breathe. And happily, 'Little Moon' is a fine and diverse collection of songs, by some distance Phillips' best work since the last days of Grant Lee Buffalo.
It is also a very positive and uplifting album. Phillips is enjoying domestic bliss with his wife and recently-born daughter Violet, so this was never likely to be an angst fest, and so it proves. Opener 'Good Morning Happiness' is like a less irritating version of 'Wake Up Boo!', a short, sharp blast to welcome you in. Elsewhere, Phillips varies the pace and feel more than he has in the past and the result is an album that sounds full of ideas. The title track for example is a lovely, drawn out ballad sung beautifully by Phillips in a warm croon over piano and strings, but it is followed by the swagger and stomp of 'It Ain't The Same Old Cold War Harry' with brass accompaniment.
Elsewhere 'Blind Tom' is a pretty piano ballad about catching songs on the wind, 'One Morning' is an anthemic guitar-led number sounding more like Phillips' old band than anything else here and 'Older Now' is a funny/sad song about ageing delivered in a patient and soothing style that emphasises Phillips' maturity and ease.
I was a fan of Grant Lee Buffalo and have bought every Phillips solo album really wanting to like it, but despite still being an engaging live performer his LPs have always been something of a let down. This however, is excellent. A varied and always interesting collection of memorable songs. Highly recommended. Assured and confident.
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