Into The Woods

Amazon.co.uk No one could really have been expecting a "Gentle Waves"-style side project from Malcolm Middleton, so despite its Winnie The Pooh-esque cover art, Into The Woods doesnt disappoint. He may not have fellow Arab Strapper Aiden Moffats characteristic monosyllabic storytelling to deliver lyrics of self-hatred, loneliness or incompetence, but in his own inimitable Scottish burr, the songs are almost as effective; not as dark, but certainly possessing a charm and identity of their own. Kicking off with the amusing "Break My Heart", in which he pleads that hed "rather have you than sing these shit songs", then listing whatll happen if his heart does get broken, over a jaunty backing track that sounds like a ramshackle Belle & Sebastian. The piano and acoustic sound is continued through most of the album, but absent on the album highlight of "No Modest Bear" where the sound is all cheap electronica and "Bear With Me", which is industrial enough to be Depeche Mode. Slightly more accessible and with more of a sing-along factor than your average Arab Strap album, it seems that Middleton has managed to carve out a niche away from his band that proves his all-round talent. --Thom Allott Product description Malcolm Middleton - Into the Woods - CD