Colin David MacLeod, a native of the Isle of Lewis is the enigmatic Boy Who Trapped the Sun. Preceding the release of his debut album, 'The Boy' as he's referred to, has released this sweet and gentle four-tracker by way of an introduction. Locating himself in a lineage that includes Cash and Drake, the comparisons are entirely fitting. However, opener 'Leaving' us an upbeat folk-styled number pushed along by a jaunty skiffle beat that counters the slightly melancholy hue of the lyrics - which contain some nicely crafted poetic flourishes - and the vocal delivery.
Craft is a key word regarding The Boy's work. He's not only written every word and every note, not only produced and mixed everything, but played it all too, save for the strings and female backing vocals. What's more, he's done a very good job: it's evident that there's a lot of thought gone into the songs, and no small amount of skill involved. For while the songs are superficially simple, they're surprisingly complex in both comcept and execution, and it's credit to The Boy that he makes it all sound so effortless, and also so much more than the sum of the parts. 'Eve' has a slightly trippy, psychedelic edge, while 'Fragile Eyes' is gentle and full of human warmth. Perhaps Colin MacLeod really did trap the sun...
|
|
