FLY YELLOW MOON is on the Geffen label, and is released on the 18 January, 2010.

Classically trained, Birmingham born and bred Fyfe Dangerfield is the vocalist and song writer with the Guillemots who won so much acclaim in recent years. Dangerfield has been involved in side projects and written classical works for public performance. In short, he’s a proper musician with a broad range of experience packed into his 30 year life (hell, he was being classicaly trained at the tender age of eight!). FLY YELLOW MOON is Dangerfield’s debut solo full-album, and could well be one of the pop albums of the year…

Imagine you’re in a joyous mood because of some fabulous personal event, and you’re celebrating with your buddies in a crowded bar, and you’ve all had a few jars and are as merry as hell. Then listen to the album’s opening track, ‘When You Walk In The Room’… I reckon that’s pretty much how you would sound if you all broke out in song (with a decent lead vocalist of course). It’s loud, proud, exuberant, joyous, anthemic, hook-laden, lyrically strong, etc. etc.. A great start to the album. ‘So Brand New’ reveals a different vocal (in fact you could think another vocalist had guested), more in tune with with this charming, thoughtful and retro-styled ballad.

Next track ‘Barricades’ is a simple acoustic ballad with a beautifully judged piano arrangement and Dangerfield at his vocal best. The album includes several love songs, and this is arguably the best with a touch of melancholy provided by superb string passages. There’s also a monster melody and another set of well-crafted lyrics. Now you’re in a fun fair along the beach front on a warm Summer night with the chatter and laughter of happy people all around you. That’s precisely the sound sample that opens ‘High On The Tide’, which then breaks out in another very pleasant retro-styled ballad, which along with everything else here is superbly produced (by Dangerfield I think).

‘Faster Than The Setting Sun’ up-changes gear to rock out in Spector-esque style before the delightful acoustic hum of ‘Livewire’ gently washes over you. Both these songs highlight one of the strengths of this album - sonic diversity that fits together like a jigsaw that’s easy to work out. ‘Firebird’ is meandering, acoustic folk-pop at its moving best. Then a lone drum beat and piano introduce another sonic twist in ‘She Needs Me’ which builds as it progresses along with ELO influence never too far away. It’s epic, superb and another standout.

‘Don’t Be Shy’ is a contemplative, acoustic beauty of a song that moves along at glacial pace, with the most expressive vocal punctuated by wonderful guitar solos. Finally, ‘Any Direction’, a beats-driven track with an adventurous instrumental backdrop combined with Beach Boy style harmonies. I wonder if there is a message to listeners in the song’s title…

Already in 2010 I’ve heard 2 wonderful albums due for release very soon. To these I must now add FLY YELLOW MOON as a potential album of the year. It combines sonic diversity with easy accessibility, without sacrificing quality. Dangerfield has performed a difficult trick and come up trumps. ENJOY!

4/5