The Man Whom is essentially Ian Doyle, formerly of Chaplin. When I reviewed pre-release sightings of this debut I referred to its “magical indie-baroque blend of Villagers meets Neil Young”. That other reviewers picked up on this causes me no hardship, but it would be a pity if the full work was taken as limited to those influences, for it also references The Mumfords, Loudon Wainwright and The Band, as well as Doyle’s fevered imagination and his deceptively fragile voice and aching songs.
‘Sing Till There’s No Songs Left’ features emotive harmonies, uplifting brass, and swagger in spades. It’s virtually impossible to avoid singing along. ‘Over And Under’ brims with good vibes, while ‘Leavin This Town’, with its unsettling melancholy, is a handsome tune with a lyrical edge that makes it relevant to these forlorn times. The string-tinged and choral ‘Easier To Run’ is almost illegally heart-breaking, while the restrained ‘Call All The People’ climbs with uncanny power, with Doyle taking it to higher and higher levels of elation. ‘Puppeteers’ is a long-held favourite of mine and ‘Til It’s Gone’ wraps it all up so you want to start all over again. The Greatest Event has enough charm and inventiveness to fill your head and nourish your soul. Eat it.