M Craft Silver & Fire 679

Published: 1:22 PM June 1, 2006

Updated: 9:01 PM February 22, 2021

THE debut album proper from M Craft (the M is for Martin – not that embarrassing, surely?), Silver & Fire shimmers with understated majesty from the off. Formerly of 90s Oz grungers Sidewinder, Martin s seismic change of tack has revealed a natural talent

THE debut album proper from M Craft (the M is for Martin - not that embarrassing, surely?), Silver & Fire shimmers with understated majesty from the off.

Formerly of 90s Oz grungers Sidewinder, Martin's seismic change of tack has revealed a natural talent for soulful, melodic and sweetly melancholic acoustica.

The album highlight, Dragonfly's finger-picked central thread weaves its way straight to the soul while lyrics float above like clouds.

Xylophone, handclaps, and breathy backing vocals conspire to imbue the record with intimacy and a fuzzy warmth, but influences, including lounge-pop, bossanova, dreamy folk and even a little funk, give it a refreshing diversity.

Definitely worth investigating.

4/5