Malcolm Middleton - Waxing Gibbous

Malcolm Middleton, Schotte, ist 35 Jahre alt und war früher einer von zwei Köpfen bei Arab Strap, die auf dem Chemikal Underground Label veröffentlichten.
Während sein ehemaliger Partner Aidan Moffat bisher höchst unterschiedliche Platten von fragwürdiger Qualität veröffentlichte, sind alle Platten von Malcolm Middleton toll. Da stellt „Waxing Gibbous" keine Ausnahme dar, egal ob er etwas aufs Gaspedal drückt („Red Travellin' Socks", „Shadows") oder Tempo herausnimmt und mehrstimmigen Gesang einbaut („Carry Me") oder plötzlich nach den Pet Shop Boys klingt („Zero") oder die Titel mit herrlichen Sing-A-Longs bis jenseits der 5- oder 6-Minuten-Marke ausdehnt („Don't Want To Sleep Tonight") und mit unerwarteten Wendungen und Kniffen aufwartet („Stop Doing Be Good").

„Red Travellin' Socks (acoustic)" Video

Waxing Gibbous is a winner from the outset with lead single Red Travellin' Socks, a song which Middleton has described as his Bohemian Rhapsody. Imposing structure aside, it's more akin to a classic Springsteen hit or one of Doves' big-hearted anthems, albeit one doused in Irn-Bru.

Kiss At The Station is another unexpected hit, with its great singalong breakdown that recalls the excellent Jack Penate single Tonight's Today.

Zero meanwhile is in a completely different vein and happily combines rap, organs, a tentative wandering bassline and an interesting blend of real and electronic percussion. It is as refreshing as Paul Hardcastle producing Elbow.

There is still some misery, as evidenced on Don't Want To Sleep Tonight, but this is confined to the song's lyrics. Malcolm sings: "Everything I do is redundant, everything I see is a lie" and "I've gone and thrown another day away," but somehow, the effect is charming rather than depressing.

Waxing Gibbous is an album of songs that deserve the sort of heavy radio rotation and media attention which helped Badly Drawn Boy crossover to mainstream success. It's unlikely that Falkirk chap Middleton really wants or needs the adulation this would bring but after 15 years on the fringes he's certainly earned it.
(bbc.co.uk)

„Made Up Your Mind (acoustic)" Video

Malcolm Middleton über „Waxing Gibbous" (Part 1 & 2) und live in Deutschland:

18.09. Cafe Glocksee, Hannover
19.09. Gleis 22, Münster
20.09. Bang Bang Club, Berlin
26.09. 59to1, München
28.09. Blue Shell, Köln
29.09. Prinzenbar, Hamburg