Mid Air by Paul Buchanan

The Blue Nile, a band so miserly in CD production that they have attained legendary status for it. This is a solo effort by Mr Buchanan. It is heart wrenchingly simple, stark, but every note is exactly where it should be. Excellent.

Paul Buchanan has written an album for which the words brooding, heartfelt and melancholia were surely invented. Offering little more than a few piano refrains on almost all tracks to accompany the melodies largely derived from Mr. Buchanan's aching voice, it's safe to say that this is not driving music to be cranked up in the car. Or maybe it is. Many's the time I listened to the Blue Nile's High late at night on lonely motorways driving back from some engagement, lost in the patterns of words and music, as the neon lights glided by.Mid-Air is therefore both recognisable for that quality, but also quite a long way away from the atmosphere of Blue Nile records. Sure, a song like From a Late Night Train off Hats would suit the mood of this album well enough, but I always felt that even amongst the slow, angst-ridden contemplation of certain tracks - Because of Toledo say off High - there was an optimism and way out of the gloom; a possibility of things to come. Here, regret, loss, the past, decisions made, and hearts unnaturally broken, pervade throughout. I'm not saying it's bad or anything and if you're sitting there in your comfiest chair, alone in the early hours, listening to this on a hi-fi system that can project the sound of whiskey tumblers being clinked in the studio, then it's got its atmosphere earmarked for you from the off.And yet when the strings eventually entered on Fin de Siècle it brought me out of the trance I was starting to enter and made me think the world wasn't that bad after all. That I'd entered such a state at all would be a good sign for most, but here the delicacy of the whole affair almost made me think I was intruding on private grief. That said, only Mr. Buchanan can come out with a melody and vocal delivery for a line like "Cars are in the Garden" and make it sound unbelievably profound; when, by rights, it ought to remind us of some dodgy `80s New Romantic synth outfit! Recommended then; just don't expect it to perk you up after a morning doing your weekly shop at Tescos.

You wait 8 years for a new Blue Nile album, and get this. A PB solo effort, devoid of the production values of old.These songs feel like piano and vocal demos.Heartfelt, accomplished songwriting and touching, weathered, tasteful vocal performances. Skeletal songs, with all their inherent rawness and fragility.And music used to be all about songs. Well, guess what, it still is. And this guy writes great songs.Would you rather not have these songs? Not me. Inspiring, and touching, and none outstay their welcome. Sure, I'd rather have the full-on production, so I'll shave off a star to reflect my smidgeon of disappointment.Paul investigates different keys sounds, which hits you later, and you realise there are some subtle bits n bobs going on. An upright bass sound here, a choral pad there. Strings, low in the mix. But the whole effect is one of reflection, hiatus, calm. Very little urgency. I miss the yelps and the machines. It was always the mix of humanity and drum synths that hooked me before...But it is lovely.

I'll start by stating that I've always loved The Blue Nile. So this album was always likely to hit the right notes for me. The thing is, apart from Paul Buchanan's voice and the lyrics, Mid Air is quite a distance from what is a typical Blue Nile album. Where normally you would expect an orchestra of strings to kick in, instead there is only piano and a barely audible Buchanan. For me, this works brilliantly well. There is a world-weariness in his voice but there is also warmth and beauty.This is an album best-listened to in one sitting even though many of the songs have a "samey" quality about them. For me this isn't an issue as it fits in with the stylistic philosophy of the album. There aren't any songs that scream "hit" but again I don't see that as a problem. It's a proper album and really needs to be listened to as a collective whole. I'd recommend putting on some good headphones and retreating to a space where you wont' be distracted by the noise of the world.Some might find the music depressing; I find it incredibly uplifting. It's one of my favourite albums of the year and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Paul Buchanan was the main man behind 'The Blue Nile', producing just four superbly atmospheric albums at roughly an album every seven years. This laid back approach is reflected in this stripped down solo work, with Buchanan mainly simply accompanied on piano. This two disc version is well packaged with the second disc including a significant number of additional tracks, with a smattering of remixes and one live rendition that is well worth the additional cost. The songs on the main disc are achingly beautiful, haunting tracks and though short are perfectly formed, as is all Buchanan's work - ever the perfectionist. Superior late night listening.

Just when you thought The Blue Nile's demise was the end of your love affair with music, up bounces the lead man hisself. Well, not quite 'bounce', more clambers to get up...then bounce a few nice chords with his producer. Ethereal, eerie betimes, always enthralling, perfect late night listening. I always wanted to spend those times with 'phones - have them only now but wow!! Lyrically compelling, musically Nileish, he has done it again! 'Mid-Air' the song encapsulates the mood - love-yearning lyrics, brittle being the byword for it all. 'After Dark' would've been a hit in the day when music was. Multiply by 14 - yes, 14!! Stunning!! Buy!