Iain Shaw – Milk Teeth EP

Milk Teeth is an apt name for this collection as the four songs on offer sound somewhat deciduous, like a prelude for something more permanent and greater to come. Recorded live with just an acoustic guitar in tow, Shaw manages to name-check Sonic Youth, Guided By Voices, Explosions in the Sky, The Smiths, Joy Division and Dr. John over the course of the EP.

It’s clear that there’s nothing wrong with his taste, but his own musical culinary skills are left wanting, falling into the trap that acoustic music must wallow in self-pity and sentimental observation. Closing number The Concrete Broke Our Fall shows the most promise and hopefully bodes for more satisfying material to follow.