Malcolm Middleton - Sleight of Heart (2008)

Tracklist

01. Week Off
02. Blue Plastic Bags
03. Total Belief
04. Just Like Anything
05. Follow Robin Down
06. Stay
07. Marguerita Red
08. Love Comes in Waves
09. Hey You

Perpetually miserable Scottish singer/guitarist Malcolm Middleton, formerly of the revered indie-rock act Arab Strap, offers up another round of dour ditties with 2008’s brilliantly titled SLIEGHT OF HEART. A spare set that features minimal support by fellow Scots Barry Burns (Mogwai) on piano and Paul Savage (ex-Delgados) on drums, HEART leaves plenty of room for Middleton’s wonderfully melancholy lyrics and droll delivery, as best evinced on “Blue Plastic Bags,” where he woefully notes, “Staying in is the new going out.” The album also includes a handful of gloomy cover tunes, most notably Madonna’s “Stay” and folkie Jackson C. Frank’s “Just Like Anything.”

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