Magnetic Morning - A.M.

The result of a creative mind-meld between Adam Franklin (Swervedriver) and Sam Fogarino (Interpol), Magnetic Morning’s debut arrives with a whisper which belies the weight of its makers. Aptly titled opener Spring Unseen lays down a blueprint where evocative loops are complemented by an echoed refrain; Fogarino’s slow burning keyboard melodies are masterfully shot through the melancholic gauze of Franklin's chilling baritone and, occasionally, that reverb-heavy guitar. A.M. rarely disappoints, though the gospel-influenced cover of The Shangri-Las’ Out in the Streets is a lethargic trundle, even in the soporific context of its psych-drone siblings. Lyrically, Franklin laments space debris found in an Athens river and draws vivid pictures of listless drives, literally revisiting the highways that defined his time with the Swervies. But this is no misguided retread; tracks like The Wrong Turn prove that when it takes their fleeting fancy Magnetic Morning can confidently square up to Mark Hollis at his most divine.