RM Hubbert - First & Last

El Hombre Trajeado are lost icons of Glasgow DIY. I say this as someone who had never heard of them prior to this review commission, but whose excitement has been well and truly piqued by the tracks found online. Former member RM Hubbert’s debut solo album generates significantly less excitement, but perhaps that’s just a matter of preference: personally, late-Fugazi grooves cross-pollinated by a glitchy Yo La Tengo have always appealed more than instrumental flamenco-guitar compositions. As a pay-what-you-like release accompanied by a ‘will-play-for-food’ gigging arrangement, it's clear that Hubbert hasn’t lost his self-sufficiency, and perhaps it's better to consider First & Last a low-key re-introduction ahead of his already-in-the-works second album (which carries the more fulfilling promise of Aidan Moffat, Alasdair Roberts and Emma Pollock collaborations). Till then I’ll stick to downloading El Hombre Trajeado’s back catalogue, gratis, from their website - thanking you kindly Mr Hubbert. [Chris Buckle]