The Balky Mule - The Length Of The Rail

The Length of the Rail is the first physical release in eight years by Melbourne-dwelling Brit and multi-instrumentalist Sam Jones, aka The Balky Mule. Jones' fragile and undeniably home-grown vocals and lo-fi organic acoustics are merged tenderly with electronic, weathered sounds and interesting percussion. At times lyrically perceptive and evocative of imagery ("I am standing in the dark, waiting for my eyes to adjust, so I can catch the woodchips”), this album is, however, hardly easy listening. At points awkward and disorderly - with instrumental passages that begin to wander at times - The Length of the Rail, over five years in the making, is a slow burner, albeit with songs rich in personality. The more immediate numbers like as Wireless and Range avoid the headiness of the album's remainder, rendering it perhaps appealing to fans of alt-folk, or down-beat electroheads with an open mind. [Lauren Mayberry]