Micah P. Hinson – Micah P. Hinson And The Nothing

Back in 2011, a serious road accident brought Micah P. Hinson's tour of Spain to an abrupt halt. Alarmingly, losing the use of his arms was a distinct possibility, but not to be deterred, the recovering singer sent pre-recorded demos to various friends, including Kilsyth’s lush miserabilists The Twilight Sad. The results, captured here, are simply stunning.

There’s a curveball thrown immediately in the form of How Are You Just A Dream? – despite its caterwauling guitars, which hit fever pitch just as Hinson frantically yelps "Do I seem fine?!?", this is no rock record. The next three tracks get progressively quieter, providing space for the Aquattro String Quartet to adroitly illustrate a relationship unraveling over coos of "It’s come apart at the seams," and sweetly framing the quiet defiance of the skeletal I Ain’t Movin’. Elsewhere Hinson rages, ruminates and romanticises, but crucially he’s always compelling, and often quite beautiful. A quiet masterpiece. [Will Fitzpatrick]