Life Slime is the new release from Pictish Trail (aka Johnny Lynch), and despite being the product of the “personal tumult” following a relationship break-up there is still a great deal of warmth radiating through the melancholy DNA of the album. Lynch says, “Life Slime feels like my most personal collection of songs to date.” But this is no pity party but rather a gently frank reflection on the various stages wrought by the end of a relationship, the “hardship, guilt, pain and confusion that come with that kind of upheaval.” There’s more self-deprecation than self-indulgence.
“Looky here, I’m mindful of the maze in which we complicate our lives” – from ‘Hold It’
Pictish Trail’s music is a perfect mix of the electronic and the analogue. If you have ever seen Johnny Lynch live then you will know that he can captivate an audience with just voice and acoustic guitar, and then introduce electronics to create everything from a journey through space to a rave. Johnny Lynch has one of the best voices around, pure and warm and it is always what elevates great songwriting into the rarefied atmosphere of artists such as Father John Misty and Karen Carpenter. These are voices that don’t just entertain, they bewitch. He even gets away with using autotune on the opening song ‘Hold It’ which gives his lines those signature wobbly edges which works perfectly here as it brings a liquidity that channels the slime of the title. The arrangements also often have plenty of slime-inspired synth squelches and bubbling arpeggios.
On ‘Another Way’ Lynch’s voice is lightly doubled in the verses, a conspiratorial softness as if these are words only meant for our ears, but in the chorus he soars like a glider while singing, “you move me like a stone, softly breaking, you move me like a stone, gently waking”. You get the electronic thud of ‘Battery Pack’ which stomps like the Energizer Bunny wearing DMs and ‘Infinity Ooze’ which is a warm breeze from Laurel Canyon, echoing the preternatural harmonies of Crosby, Stills & Nash while the backing swirls like golden hour clouds.
There is a Through the Looking Glass feel to diving into a Pictish Trail album. He’s a man who takes the business of songwriting seriously but probably less-so himself. For example, the title track is the jewel in the crown of the album, but the video see Lynch attempting to get the Guinness World Record for “most amount of slime poured over an individual during a music video performance” (verification still pending). You can see the video below and read my review of the single here. Life Slime has a lot in common with the best songwriting of the 60s and 70s. You get the shimmer of the aforementioned Laurel Canyon with some psychedelic zest from 1966-68-era Beatles.
if you remember back to your childhood, most of us had no trouble playing in the mud or squishing Play-Doh between our fingers and toes. That mixture of playful innocence is present here, albeit the rose-tinted spectacles might have a few cracks and smears from the bumper cars of adulthood. I have had the album on repeat while writing this review and it sounds as magnificent, heart-rending, uplifting and honest on the fiftieth listen as it did on the first.
Pictish Trail: Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | YouTube
Pictish Trail on tour:
As an aside, slime is a fascinating thing. Slime moulds are perfect at creating networks, navigating obstacles, and exploring new territories; it is in essence a biological computer. Should you wish to learn more about this tiny lifeform then you can see a fascinating TED Talk by a good friend of mine, artist Heather Barnett.
Pictish Trail on tour:
Thu, April 23: The Tolbooth, STIRLING
Fri, April 24: Harbour Arts Centre, IRVINE
Sat, April 25: The Tunnels, ABERDEEN
Sun, April 26: The Cluny, NEWCASTLE
Mon, April 27: The Attic, LEEDS
Tue, April 28: La Belle Angele, EDINBURGH
Fri, May 1: The Pink Room / Yes, MANCHESTER
Sat, May 2: The John Peel Centre, STOWMARKET
Sun, May 3: Billy Bootleggers, NOTTINGHAM
Mon, May 4: The Prince Albert, STROUD
Tue, May 5: Ramsgate Music Hall, RAMSGATE
Wed, May 6: The Boileroom, GUILDFORD
Thu, May 7: The Barrel House, TOTNES
Fri, May 8: Alphabet, BRIGHTON
Sat, May 9: The Legion Club, WENDOVER
Sun, May 10: The Lexington, LONDON
Sat July 4: The Rockfield Centre, OBAN
Sun, July 5: Kelburn Garden Party, LARGS
Thu, Aug 13: The Gregson, LANCASTER
Fri, Aug 21: Green Man Festival, CRICKHOWELL
Aug 29: Krankenhaus Festival, BARROW-IN-FURNESS
Review by Paul F Cook
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