Just Like Blood

OK. So there are only ten tracks, it's a bit draining emotionally and you've never heard him before. Don't worry about that, take my advice and buy this album. You won't regret it.

"Just Like Blood" is perhaps a little more upbeat than his debut; make no mistake, this is still a beautiful exercise in melancholia, but with the greatly increased instrumentation McRae has had access to this time around, there's less of the plaintive "voice and piano" moments. Like all truly talented musicians, this album evolves McRae's style; it's still "him" in every way, but this is a step forward, helped by that increased instrumental aspect and novelty sound effects his new producer has used to augment the music. Everything is polished, and each song feels complete in every way - not one leaves you dissatisfied. And each song has it's own defining aspect which stays with you, whether it's a particular riff or McRae's voice or a single unexpected note. Much like his debut, I don't find myself humming just one favourite song, but the entire album gets itself lodged in my head. It's not a bad mental companion.

Although this is all somewhat gushing and imprecise, it's a hard task to get across just how good this album is. From an analytical stance, it's hard to pick out specific tracks when they are all of such high quality - though Mermaid Blues, You Only Disappear and A Day Like Today are seriously impressive. As McRae himself says on his website (tommcrae.com), his music is all about finding that transcendent moment when you've lost yourself - you could be crying or laughing and you just don't know why. To say his songs are from the heart would be the ultimate understatement; so much emotion comes across in his lyrics that you can't help but close your eyes and feel those emotions too.

It's really rather good. Do buy it.

The album opens with 'A Day Like Today', and with the very first line "Welcome back says the voice on the radio / but I never left I was always right here" you can almost feel the smirk on McRae's face as the chinking melody chime perfectly over swooning keyboards, climaxing in a crashing chorus in which McRae wishes he could "love you to death...": a minute into the album and you're hooked. The next track 'You Only Disappear' is the pride of the collection, McRae's voice tears through your very soul as he delivers possibly his finest vocal performance to date, the drums reverb over a sweeping sea of sound, before the storm calms and the album nestles into the quieter 'Ghost Of A Shark'; another triumph. The quietest song on the album, it is perfectly measured along with the following jazz-tinged 'Stronger Than Dirt'. Both lead on to 'Overthrown' an unusual electric effort, McRae's voice is distorted to drive home the frustration and confusion espoused within the track. Halfway through the album you're wondering whether it can really get any better. The next song does exactly that.

Walking2Hawaii is vying to be the best song on the lp, indeed the opening verse "falling feels like flying 'till you hit the ground / and everything is beautiful 'till you take a look around / so let it go..." is as beautifully poetic as he has ever written. The soundscape here is as close to perfect as your ears will ever experience, the Oli Krauss' cello pulls and throws you over Tom's gorgeous arpeggio's and the song leaves you quite breathless - quite apt considering the final verse (buy it to see what I mean!). This is proceeded by the stunning 'Mermaid Blues' if only for the cello chaos, and single 'Karaoke Soul', the 'A&B Song' of the album, demanding his enemies 'hold me close when you stick in the knife". Chilling stuff indeed.

The album concludes with the hushed, gentle 'Human Remains', a perfect conclusion to an almost-faultless album, it cleverly fades into silence with McRae asking you to "tell me whats next?". With that the album opens with a wish and closes with a question. Over the 10 tracks it pins you against a wall and challenges you to dare not even breathe for fear of missing a note. Its not as bleak and raw as the debut (Blur & Elbows Ben Hillier takes production credits) but an ambitious relocating of the goal-posts. Its flawless in its execution, with 'Just Like Blood' McRae establishes himself as perhaps the superior lyricist - word-smith more concisely - of his generation. You know, more people should know about Tom McRae. A lot more people...