Green Peppers - Domino Mornings

Had Domino Mornings been released a decade or so ago, it's easy to imagine Jim McCulloch's solo project having more success than it probably will have now – for in the meantime, Fran Healey has filled the popular niche Green Peppers seek to fit into. We'd be speaking of the "influence" of Travis if it wasn't so otherwise generic, but Domino Mornings, whilst being a worthy competitor to The Man Who in style, is unlikely to excite much passion, positively or negatively, or provide the annoying radio hits of that breakthrough record. That is, unless American Tan or I Will Be Always Be The Same are released, both irritatingly happy-clappy – the latter particularly sounding like a Sunday School singalong for toddlers. The Times Won't Let You Down benefits hugely from the always-harmonious Isobel Campbell, and the closing title track has a clawing choral hook that leans towards more favourable Neil Young comparisons; but two mildly enjoyable tracks from 11 is hardly enough to raise temperatures on a Scottish summer morning. [Ally Brown]