Alaska

Mainly the work of singer Trevor Jones, this record begins with the title track, "Alaska," an elegant and melodic mix that recalls Bruce Springsteen's "Secret Garden". Melodies are the group's selling point and they appear to have them in abundance. The Beautiful South can also be seen in country-tinged tunes like "Wilful". But early on, these songs tend to be drawn out a bit longer than desired.
"Beautiful Mirage" misses the mark somewhat despite the funk format throughout. Most of the album has a melancholic feeling within it, bringing to mind Phil Collins, particularly in the humorous "Weatherwise". Miracle Mile brings many genres to the fore, including jazz styles on "Five Points Of Light". Jones is also supported by Marcus Cliffe on all tracks, especially the David Gray "Babylon" backbeat on "Under My Tongue." The concluding spoken words seem out of place though, and too highbrow. "Cinnamon Chair" picks the tempo up and is one of the highlights on this rather lengthy album. There are a few miscues among the 17 songs, however, notably the lounge-lizard track "Last Drop," and the spoken word attempt during "Local Knowledge". The final few songs should be placed higher in the track listing, particularly the infectious folk pop of "Mermaid," and the Celtic touches on "Deaf Face." The tender "Sister Song" ends this melodic singer-songwriter pop journey. It might be a bit long, but overall the songs tend to speak for themselves quite well. ~ Jason MacNeil|