Album Review: World's Strongest Man, GAS COOMBES

Gaz Coombes emerged from the ashes of Supergrass as an accomplished singer-songwriter, capable of stirring the soul with his solo material. His 2015 album Matador was a sublime work of ambient groove and spacey electronica, which hit a powerful note of introspective melancholy. New LP World’s Strongest Man retains the synthesised ambience, although – to the record’s detriment – there is more focus on mood and less on melody. The title track offers immediate muscle and attitude, and it’s the closest thing here to an out-and-out rocker, but it’s the sole blast of urgency on an otherwise low-key affair. The single ‘Deep Pockets’ is decent and the only vaguly commercial cut, with the rest of the album retaining a decidedly experimental edge, notably on tracks like ‘Slow Motion Life’ and ‘Wounded Ego’. The former floats along beautifully on its sensitive, delicately arranged synthesiser sounds, while the latter features layered production and a tinkling piano refrain, which finishes with a children’s chorus, merging with Coombes’ fading vocals. At such times, his frail falsetto recalls fellow Oxford native Thom Yorke; could the album’s experimental electro tones also have been influenced by Radiohead’s more esoteric work. Long gone is Supergrass’ cheeky indie: World’s Strongest Man is the work of a mature artist, and an expansion on some of the musical ideas laid down on Matador. But despite some delightful diversions into airy space-pop, overall the album is a difficult listen. OUT MAY 4

Rating: 5/10