Alluvium

Four albums into his career, Scotlands C Duncan has become a reliable pop sophisticate, gently finessing moods with his layered arrangements and unpredictable chord shifts. His instrumental touch is effortlessly light, as are his hushed vocal harmonies, and yet the sound he creates is often voluminous. On Alluvium, his first album for Bella Union, Duncan offers a diverse collection that is united by its refreshing sense of optimism. On the standout "Heaven," he delivers an unabashed synth pop gem with a driving 80s bounce and a radiant chorus that sums up the albums overriding mood of positive change. Its more playful cousin, the hooky "I Tried," appears later in the set, while the lilting "Bell Toll" cannily recalls the memorable whistling motif of his 2015 breakout "For." Even in his more mercurial moments, Duncan provides a sense of uplift with his chromatic chord progressions, a signature move that never fails to breathe drama and wonder into sweeping ballads like "Air" and the eerie "Sad Dreams." The jazzy, propulsive "Pretending" is another highlight, while the wistful, piano-led "You Dont Come Around" takes its cues from classic 70s singer/songwriter pop. After branching out to work with Elbows Craig Potter on his previous album, Alluvium puts the multi-instrumentalist back in the drivers seat, producing and recording himself at his home studio. Since the release of his Mercury Prize-nominated debut, Duncan has thrived as a self-contained entity, building worlds to his exacting specifications with little help from the outside. In cases like this, a comfort zone isnt a bad place to be. ~ Timothy Monger