As If To Nothing

There aren’t many artists who are able to move between the worlds of the Golden Globes or BAFTAs and that of cutting edge rock music but Craig Armstrong – scorer of film soundtracks and arranger of strings for Massive Attack – is one of the few able to pull it off.

As If To Nothing (his second solo album) is the perfect synthesis of his two worlds, as demonstrated by the opening seconds of the very first track, ‘Ruthless Gravity’, where the random bleeps of electronica are underscored by a dramatic, swelling orchestral arrangement.

Unsurprisingly, it’s a feel that dominates the album (this is the man who gave ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ much of its sweeping dignity after all) but Armstrong has been canny enough to make this more than just the soundtrack to an imaginary movie, the frequent instrumentals combining a massive cinematic scope with the ambition of the best left-field rock and dance artists.

No surprise then that kindred spirits Mogwai and Photek are present and correct, adding their own elements to Armstrong’s already expansive concept. David McAlmont’s contribution ‘Snow’ has more than a little Bond theme-tune feel to it, while Bono and Armstrong’s reinterpretation of ‘Stay (Faraway, So Close)’ is simply beautiful.

The greatest revelation, however, comes in the form of ‘Wake Up In New York’ where Evan Dando, seen by many as just another wasted talent, has never sounded quite so forlorn and so utterly convincing. A moving, enthralling piece of work.