The Boy Who Trapped the Sun – Fireplace

The Boy Who Trapped the Sun apparently chose his lengthy stage name because it felt “bigger and less lonely” than ‘Colin MacLeod’. While the pseudo-communal effect is somewhat undone by 1) his debut’s consistently forlorn atmosphere, and 2) MacLeod’s decision to play every instrument himself (bar occasional strings, used to great effect), its evocative qualities remain apt.

Such a clean and familiar sound – as polished and well-worn as its practitioners’ acoustic fret-boards – may limit opportunity for innovation, but innovation has never been the be-all and end-all. Other factors elevate Fireplace: its melancholic heart, its sincerity, and its maker’s voice for starters. So while not entirely unique – recommendation engines can comfortably slot this alongside Damien Rice without risking offence – it carries a level of conviction that allows the odd genre cliché to pass by practically unnoticed, and a level of promise that assuredly exceeds the average Buckley-indebted solo singer-songwriter. [Chris Buckle]