Stephen Fretwell - Man On The Roof

Consistency is rare. So is a voice that can range from weary to transcendent. This second album by Manchester-based Stephen Fretwell boasts both of the above. While it hardly forces you to alter your whole musical appreciation, it does maintain an enviably high standard throughout its 46 minutes. From the drunkenly lurching march of Coney to the wistful – and striking – chord changes of Bumper Cars, the music is only bettered by Fretwell's breathy, naturally-fluid vocals. The subject matter is predominantly romantic, but it's all highly personal and coded. Both Funny Hat and William Shatner's Dog, for instance, refer to a female singer Fretwell appears to have been involved with: "I heard your brand new song on the radio/And it made me remember why I loved you so." Riddles aside, this is an album of understated quality which reaches its peak half-way in The Scheme, a haunting study in voice-and-piano that recalls – and equals – Radiohead's Pyramid Song. [Nick Mitchell]