Most of you will probably remember DANIEL WYLIE from his days as the frontman for Glaswegian upstarts Cosmic Rough Riders. Following the band's split in 2002, Wylie went on to release his debut solo album 'Ramshackle Beauty' to much deserved critical acclaim. It's a pity, then, he's blotted his copybook with this poor collection of songs.
Not so much as a follow up (these songs were seemingly deemed unsuitable for 'Ramshackle Beauty', or his, as yet, untitled future release), 'Postcards' is an attempt to capture the sounds of summer-infected jangly Californian pop that Wylie obviously loves so much.
Strummed acoustics are the order of the day, accompanying Wylie's, at times, painful attempt to conjur up some vocal magic. Try listening to 'I'm Hanging Around' and you'll get my drift. More Owen Paul, than Brian Wilson.
Taken as a whole, this is hard listening. Dull plodding guitar pop one minute ('The Cello Player', 'We Can Get It Right'), quickly followed by contrived attempts at West Coast harmonies ('Love, Love, Love', 'Bluebirds Flying High) leave the listener cold, even after three or four listens.
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That said, the two tracks book-ending the album don't deserve the same criticism.
Opening with an arrangement of the Wishbone Ash classic 'Time Was', Wylie's Beach Boy harmonies compete with the insistent backdrop of electric guitar to great effect. And on the closer 'Song For The Lonely', the simpler acoustic arrangement gives Wylie's voice a less cluttered canvas to flourish in. So, not all bad then.
Rumoured to be recording his third album in the Americana style should excite plenty people out there, not least his fans. But for the rest of us, I'm afraid, it's a case of having to wait and see.
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