Stuart Moxham – Winter Sun [CD]

Few artists arrive as compellingly yet elusively as did Stuart Moxham upon the startling debut of Young Marble Giants sole studio album, Colossal Youth. Initial excitement was thrust upon the young Alison Statton, who sang songs written by Stuart with a couple of exceptions. The unaffected tone of her voice was in steep contrast to the typical goings-on in that still quite punky time, but it was what she sang that fully sold it. Moxhams lyrics were both intensely personal and woefully oblique. There seemed to be a sort of story in there. Confusingly, that story often felt like it was Alisons rather than the fellow whod penned it. The unexpected miracle deal with Rough Trade and the albums subsequent success had the band stymied for a second act and it wasnt long before the group disintegrated, although circumstances often brought members and a few of their peers together in odd combinations and pairings. None of the three YMG members have been especially prolific, but its Stuarts career that has seemed the least straightforward. In the case of his first solo full-length in thirty years, Stuart took the unusual step of entering an alien studio with American producer Dave Trumfio and allowing him to decide what tracks (of a large number submitted by Stuart) to record, and how theyd be orchestrated. Stuarts minimalism is quite intact, the range of emotions quite wide.1. Cottonmill Lane 2. Dagger And Pill 3. Before We Prayed 4. Heart Of Glass 5. The Quiet One 6. Ancient Time 7. A Different Day 8. State Of Penitentiary 9. Do The Locomotion 10. Storms 11. A Different Day II