Jim Noir is one of the new breed of multi-instrumentalist bedroom musicians, performing all tracks on this album himself and hailing from Davyhulme in Manchester. As the latest exponent of this city's fine musical tradition, he continues the current (and most welcome) trend of singing in provincial accents, with his Mancunian vowels sneaking through.

Make no mistake, this album is not what used to be known as a "grower" - instead it is dripping with shimmering melody, wonderfully direct and utterly charming from the first listen. Jaunty rhythms abound with synthesized bass, plucked guitar and breezy, multi-layered harmonies.

My Patch is the closest this album gets to swaggering Gallagher-esque machismo with its vague lyrical threat ("if you ever step on my patch, I'll bring you down"), though this is offset by a bouncy musical backing that could be used as a children's TV theme. Sad that this wonderful song is now being used to advertise pasties sold in motorway service stations, but I digress.  

Turn Your Frown Into A Smile begins with birdsong and exquisite bursts of fingerpicked guitar. Its melody could almost be from a nursery rhyme, though the ethereal, dreamlike second half of the song saves it from tweeness. Computer Song features the protagonist using computer metaphors to convey his frustration to his paramour  - "I try Ctrl Delete but it makes me upset when I have to reset your heart."

This is not a record that takes itself too seriously. Witness Eanie Meanie with its refrain of "If you don't give my football back I'm gonna get my Dad on you", a welcome lyrical riposte to the cod-profundity and platitudes favoured by some.

In The Key of C seems to almost consciously evoke the Beatles' least celebrated aspect - Ringo's drumming. The tinkling synths suggest nothing so much as an ice cream van, though this soon gives way to fuzztoned wah-wah guitar. 

The album isn't completely reminiscent of beatific British beat groups, however. The reprise, Eanie Meanie 2, is largely instrumental and recalls Air's Moon Safari with its synthetic soundscapes and fractured organ, whereas the title track, also an instrumental, brings to mind Ennio Morricone at his lushest.

Closing with The Only Way, the whimsy of the previous songs is left behind as Jim goes straight for the jugular with this unabashed paean to lost love, featuring an earnest, understated backing of acoustic guitar augmented by gentle bass and drums. 

Ably supported by a backing band when playing live (referred to by Jim as his "merry minstrels"), the album itself is a solo affair and is testament to Jim's musical dexterity, production skills and way with a tune.

Potential future directions are merely hinted at throughout, but for now many will be content to simply lose themselves in these nimble, gossamer compositions. In its own quiet way, this is a minor modern masterpiece.

Release date: 05/12/05
Label: My Dad Recordings

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