Splintered Man - Splintered Man

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 22 / 2 / 2015

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Review

A low-key release, on a brand new label – so low key, in fact, that I'd only got hold of it in January, despite it being released (admittedly with little fanfare) at some point last year. Splintered Man are Simon Kobayashi (who you may recognise as one third of the much louder Smallgang) and Alex Carter. Their self-titled debut album is an enjoyable collection of hummable tunes played on two acoustic guitars, occasionally adorned with bare bones percussion (and a tiny cameo from a cellist). Though a wholly acoustic album (well, almost... more on that later), it is the pair's love of American lo-fi indie rock that shines through most of these songs – though from London, the phrasing of the vocals betrays many hours spent listening to Stephen Malkmus and Mark Kozelak. The tunes have the same kind of 'plucked out of the air' quality many of you will recognise from J Mascis's recent solo acoustic work. The quality keeps up right through the album – my two favourite tracks come right before the end, first the driving guitar lines and Pavement-inspired melody of ‘There was a Love’ and then the epic, slightly surreal ‘I Think the Shape of Your Head’. Listen carefully to Carter and Kobayashi's delicate guitar work, and you'll hear nods to acoustic maestro John Fahey and soulful folkie John Martyn in amidst the US indie rock references. Then, right at the end of the record when you aren't expecting it, there is a hair brained electric guitar wig out that is exactly one part Mascis to one part Malkmus – an inspired move that means that you are always in a really good mood right at the very end of the record. Splintered Man may not be the first band to make this kind of music, but what they have done is make an album that holds your attention from start to finish. There are no songs you want to skip – and in a music scene overcrowded with acoustic songwriters whose work suffers from sounding relentlessly monotonous, that alone is enough to make them stand out from the pack. An album that deserves far better than the muted reception it has had so far, so forgive me for not hearing it when it was first released, and give it a try.

Track Listing:-

1 Stay By My Side
2 Dartford Tunnel
3 I'll Get Back to You
4 Home to No Home
5 Oh My
6 A Quiet Life
7 Patient Song
8 Parent Song
9 There Was a Love
10 I Think the Shape of Your Head
11 You Corrupted Me

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/splinteredman