One of the advantages of membership of Last Night From Glasgow is getting your sticky mitts on the glorious recordings ahead of their release. As the date for the official launch of the latest album, Doubtlands, from the magnificent Mt Doubt approaches (18th September) this stirring collection of songs, which manages to be both darkly melancholic but at the same time upliftingly enriching, feels like it has been spinning on my turntable for years such is the welcoming radiance it exudes. A sound that feels like the missing link between the dark storytelling and deep velvety resonance of antipodean troubadour Nick Cave and the multifarious textures of Glasgow’s own Blue Nile and The Bathers.
The album positively oozes quality, having already spawned three tremendous singles, Headless, Caravans on a Hill and Dark Slopes Away. The remaining seven tracks live up to the promise of these preceding inspirational vignettes.
Moody Scene Setter
There has obviously been much thought out into the track listing. 68th in Orbit is a textbook album opener. A real moody scene setter from the off, a slow build intro drawing you in, attracted to the heartfelt atmosphere created by the dual vocal. Annie Booth’s feathery light backing vocal provides a perfect foil to Leo Bargery’s rich lead. At the opposite end, there could be no better track to end on than Peaks of Wreck – more of that later.
Following the glorious Caravans on a Hill, which lifts you up as it soars, the dramatic intro to Yawn When I Do gives way to a delicate vocal from Leo, backed by brushed drums. Sensitive instrumentation slowly builds and ultimately reaches a resounding peak before the final quiet contemplation that all may not be well with the near whispered voice of regret ”she doesn’t yawn when I do”.
Waiting Room starts as a quiet reflection on the thoughts in his head while sympathetic plaintive piano backs his feelings. Gradually Annie’s angelic vocals are added to the mix signalling the layering of the remaining instruments, before closing out with a melancholic feeling of despair, stripping back to Leo’s sorrowful declaration – “I just wanted to call you…”. Murmurations is a short acoustic ballad with Annie and Leo sharing the vocals and delicately hypnotising the listener as they close out side 1, in the same way that watching starlings at dusk does.
Side two kicks off with the magnificent single Headless, Liam Dempsey providing some stirring saxophone to complement the soaring chorus. The hauntingly affecting melody of Stairwell Songs is sandwiched between the transcendent beauty of Headless and the mighty Dark Slopes Away. These evocative melodies give it a feel of a song passed down through generations.
Rousing
To me Dark Slopes Away has always had a feel of the Kate Bush classic Cloudbusting about it. Both tracks having a rousing keyboard backed drum beat. Despite both being moving tales tinged with sadness, Kate Bush telling the tale of the relationship between Wilhelm Reich and his son Peter, and Leo and his song despairing mans impact on the environment, both songs have uplifting and joyous effect on the listener. Before the album reaches its final proclamation, we have a sense of crashing drama created by Eshaness which reflects the striking coastline from which it takes its name.
There could be no other closing track for the album than the astonishing Peaks of Wreck dragging you through the wringer and leaving you in a flood of emotions. Peaks of Wrecks takes you on an emotional journey both physically and metaphorically, I’m there with Leo when he sings about wanting to “drive down through the Dolomites, take a photograph of an albatross in flight” such are the vivid pictures he paints in his lyrics. The song reaches its crescendo with Leo repeating the line “Is it really worth the trouble”. I’d have to respond with a resounding yes.