STANO: “Wreckage” (Hue)

While Wreckage is a long way from the young man who recited poetry in front of avant garde disciples and curious onlookers at The Project Theatre fifteen years ago, John Stanley still manages to maintain a grip on his self-styled but not necessarily self-promoted enigma. The ex-carpenter is still knocking on wood, still kicking against the pricks, still around to annoy.

Stano is back from semi-major label hell, burnt in the process, but thankfully not burnt out, for Wreckage is full of surprises, twists, turns and the occasional great moment. It seems an independent record company is the ideal place for Stano and experimental musicians like him; the same record label released last year’s flawed but intriguing Words Mean Nothing Lifes Just Wild by L to dance to different time signatures.