Peter Broderick - Http://Itstartshear.Com (CD)

Fans of the recent Oliveray LP from brothers in minimal Peter Broderick and Nils Frahm have reason to celebrate today, as the Brodster drops his second vocal-led solo album, with a little help from his friends. Unsurprisingly, the Frahmotron makes his presence known on this Brod-centric album, appearing on no less than eight of the ten tracks on offer here, so in a way it feels like an extension of their constant collaboration. I've gotta admit I wasn't too crazy about the album title at first, but then I went to the website in question and discovered that it's packed with tidbits of information about the creative process that's gone into creating this piece of work on a song-by-song basis, and in a way it completes the package and helps it to feel more rounded and personal. As for the music on here, it's largely folk-inflected stuff, often with neoclassical touches and sometimes just straight mournful fingerpicking and hushed vocals; sometimes, like on the pulsating title track, it's a little more adventurous and a bit trip hoppy (although to be honest I'm a little weirded out about the chorus where he keeps repeating his website address...”aitch tee tee pee, colon slash slash, dubya dubya dubya dot it starts hear dot com”)...it kind of comes across like Massive Attack have written him a radio jingle. I'm more taken by the folkier numbers and the more soulful piano-led neoclassical bits. The album's slow-burning centrepiece 'Asleep' culminates in huge gang harmonies that give the already heady atmospheres a kick into gospelly transcendence, and there's a lovely cover of his father Steven's folk song 'Blue' which he put out as a 7” recently. Senor Brodski has a really smooth and soulful voice that reminds me of Sandro Perri's and he never overeggs things so it's a tasteful ride throughout. Once again Team Broderahm comes up with the goods.