Human Don't Be Angry - Human Don't Be Angry (CD)

It's kind of difficult to tell why Malcolm Middleton has chosen to change his name to Human Don't Be Angry...apparently a direct English translation of the German name for board game Frustration. Presumably this is supposed to denote some kind of change in aesthetic or approach but this is still unmistakeably Middleton. Unlike his previous solo outings, though, the balance is shifted heavily towards the instrumental, production-based side of things, with a mixture of programmed beats and live drums (provided by former Arab Strap buddy Aidan Moffat) over warmly layered twinkling guitars and understated keyboards filling out the sound, as well as occasional samples. One of the songs, 'After the Pleasuredome', sounds kind of like an extended intro to Echo & The Bunnymen's 'The Killing Moon', and overall the record's got quite a dusky, soothing atmosphere to it. To me it kind of sounds like if Malc's written the soundtrack to some wistful arty film that doesn't exist. Warm, atmospheric and emotionally resonant stuff.