It seems appropriate for me to be reviewing the new Darren Hayman album on September 1, seeing as how the instrumentals on Songs of High Altitude, out on Friday via Gare Du Nord Records, have a decidedly autumnal feel to them. Composed on a trip to India earlier this year, the tunes are light, unpretentious, and entirely affecting.
"Sister's Bazaar" feels like something off the first Lilac Time album, while "Plea for a Little Railway", the only cut here with vocals, is mournful and oddly hopeful at the same time, a faint tinkling of keyboards anchoring the cut behind Hayman's voice. "The Batasia Loop" is spry and playful, while "First Flush, Second Flush, Autumn Flush" is plaintive and folk-y. Elsewhere, "Suitcase Full of Beans" is mellow and charming, while "Done Thing, Done Thing" takes a chance by adding an electronic throb under the tune. The cut is the heaviest one here on an album that is, otherwise, delightful and entirely easy to love. Songs of High Altitude sounds absolutely nothing like Hefner, of course, but it is one of the real highlights of this busy Autumn new release season.
Songs of High Altitude is out on Friday via Gare Du Nord Records. More details also available on the label's official Facebook page.
More details on Darren Hayman available via his official Facebook page. [Photo: Darren Hayman Bandcamp page]