Lightships

It would be unreasonable to assume that after spending more than two decades as part of Teenage Fanclub, Gerald Love's debut as Lightships was going to be anything but a collection of melodic guitar pop. On that front, he delivers. What is a bit more unexpected is that Love has made an album as good as any he's been involved with for a long, long time. Electric Cables is everything it should be and more. It is beautifully recorded, with laidback warmth permeating each and every song; it's hard not to smile as the ten songs drift by. He's joined by members of the Pastels, Belle and Sebastian and, naturally, Teenage Fanclub, but they are simply there in a supporting capacity ― this is very much Love's record. The guitars shimmer, as do the layers of vocal harmonies, and the songs creep up with a gentleness that is refreshingly subtle. This is a lovely record with enough autumnal tones to ensure that you'll still be listening to it in six months' time.