'I'm tired of singing shit songs', sings Malcolm Middleton with a heavy Scottish accent at the beginning of his second solo CD. Whether he refers to the music of his band Arab Strap remains open. The fact is that the album is quite different from the gloomy CDs he delivered with this band. Into The Woods is an uplifting record that is reminiscent of the work of Badly Drawn Boy. The voice looks a
… bit like it and Middleton also knows how to package attractive melodies in an alternative pop-rock sound in which occasionally a lot of experimentation takes place in the production area, without hindering accessibility. The only downside is the sober cover that is devoid of lyrics and relevant background information. Through Middleton's site we learn that there are band members of cult bands like Arab Strap, Mogwai and The Delgados play along. A surprisingly strong album. (MS)more
