The Minus 5 - Killingsworth

The Minus 5 remain relatively obscure, which is astonishing when you consider that past line-ups have included members of Sonic Youth and Wilco, as well as E, Patti Smith, Ben Gibbard and “pretty much everyone else”. Ringleader Scott McCaughey isn’t joking either - there are over a hundred ex-members listed online. For his eighth album, McCaughey utilises the talents of various Decemberists, longtime collaborator Peter Buck and members of M. Ward’s band. The results blow a resounding raspberry at the “too many cooks spoil the broth” aphorism by being both cohesive and richly rewarding. Working largely from a classic country-folk palette and blessed with honey-smooth backing harmonies courtesy of the Shee Bee Gees, Killingsworth’s forty minutes include upbeat pedal-steel punning (The Long Hall), a banjo-backed ode to The Lurking Barrister, and various sunkissed ballads of the highest calibre. Buy a copy - they’ve a lot of hungry mouths to feed.