Mano McLaughlin doesn't believe in complicating his life or outstaying his welcome. It took him just four days to record these ten tracks at his Manchester home and the total playing time is under 29 minutes.
Breaking teeth on peach stones, scrabbling through the wheelie bins Behind Kwik Save and doing his very own Secret Scarecrow Dance when no-one else is looking are some of his idiosyncratic subjects. His words are quirky and impressionistic but never throwaway or forced.
He has his own style but on Colour Me In blatantly nicks the tune from The Beatles' Don't Let Down and he comes over a bit Cohen-esque on Blessings.
All the tracks are simple voice and acoustic guitar pieces with the exception of Jumping Up In A Crowd where he plays piano accompanied by daughter Alita on backing vocals. His other daughter Ria gets in on the act by singing along on Magpie Me.
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Elbow's Gus Garvey has called McLaughlin one of Britain's best songwriters. This is something of an exaggeration I'd submit, but there's no mistaking the homespun, unpretentious charm of this record.
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