This is a 3-tracker from Sullivan and produced by Steve Greenwell. The abstract turquoise sleeve art gives nothing away, so it’s down to the tracks themselves, readers…..

Warm Your Bones has a forceful acoustic intro with a backbeat and throaty vocal with a touch of James Morrison. The chorus soon arrives and the arrangement garners light additional elements. It’s a deliciously and deliberately airy production, fancy guitar figures seeping in@ 2:30. The bass playing is excellent, by the way.

Bird At Night has more of a flourish about it, whoever is playing the guitar knows what they are doing. A plaintive love song, this with a catchy melody. Almost a Travis sound but in reflective mode, with well-placed drumbeats. Something pretty radio-friendly about this song and the guitars are very well-recorded. Take It Back has a more emphatic rhythm with a wah effect used on the intro. This cut scores highest of these for romantic vibes. If Paolo Nutini had a less annoying voice..the wah’d guitar solo is simple and effective. Mark’s diction is top-notch and he seems to have very natural, earnest vocal touch. It’s superior modern folk-rock.

Three songs free of production clutter and wodges of synthesizers filling every space, allowing the lyrics to sink in and beguile. It is all kind of outdoorsy, whether or not this is intended. Pleasant without being explosive, this is true songcraft for sure.

Pete Sargeant

(Many thanks to Cat for all of her help with this review)