Spencer McGarry Season: Episode 2

Those who enjoyed the mod stylings and 1979-ish power-pop forays of Spencer McGarry Season's debut album, Episode 1, might be in for a bit of a shock. In Episode 2 electric guitars mingle with cellos, clarinets, flutes and flugel horns. Fear not though, beneath the orchestral arrangements and dickie bows a-go-go Baroque flourishes, the ensemble's trademark killer melodies shine through. Also present and correct are Spencer McGuigan's now familiar idiosyncratic and engagingly oddball lyrics. Topics covered on this outing include Serology and Robotics. I was also much taken with the dialogue between a boy and a bridge in the fabulous The Loneliest Bridge. All Things To All Men, The Giveaway and Great Enemies are my entirely subjective highlights, but it's all fine tuneage and not a duff track in earshot. Something of a slow burner you'll end up whistling snatches from Episode 2 for months, if not years, to come.

*Episode 2 by Spencer McGarry Season is on sale now on Businessman Records. Watch the amusing video for Great Enemies here.