Stone Ghost Collective – Unrequited Lovesongs

That the press release for Unrequited Lovesongs can claim it mistakable for “an obvious and predictable grab for acceptance” reveals something of its creator’s usual idiosyncrasies. First, Dawn of the Replicants built a solid reputation for odd-pop experimentalism, now ex-guitarist Mike Sorensen Small’s Stone Ghost Collective embark on further musical adventures, including a forthcoming third album (also due in 2011) of “Pagan, indie-folk oratorios.”

In context, this is indeed relatively straightforward, but remains far from humble: She Doesn’t Care combines autotune and harpsichord for perhaps the first time, while The Saddest Truth swoops on sighing strings. When it strikes the correct balance, it’s eye-opening, but it often occupies an unforgiving hinterland – either too conventional to excite or too self-conscious to provoke a purer pop sensation. It’s not often such things can be said, but perhaps Pagan indie-folk oratorios will prove a more natural fit for Small’s intriguing talents. [Chris Buckle]