Solo albums have been an avenue of escape for a long time and on Owl John’s self-titled bow it’s the turn of Frightened Rabbit’s Scott Hutchison to work through a few things.
With his day job becoming a slog in the wake of ‘Pedestrian Verse’ going top 10 and marking their jump to a major as a commercial, as well as critical, success, Hutchison beat a hasty retreat and opened up to something far more organic and smaller in scale.
Accompanied by Frightened Rabbit’s Andy Monaghan and Simon Liddell, these songs were put together in a hurry on the Isle of Mull and filled out lyrically back in Los Angeles, Hutchison’s new home. Duly, this shouldn’t be seen as a true solo effort, but it’s hard to escape its personal nature.
Less outwardly anthemic than Frightened Rabbit’s best work, there’s nevertheless plenty here for their devotees to get their teeth into. The lyrics here speak of despair, doubt and an almost apocalyptic anxiety, but Hutchison’s melodic nous and instrumental deftness of touch ensure that it’s a remarkably cohesive album given its beginnings.
Cold Creeps and Two, the opening salvo, exemplify the new approach. Emerging from nebulous sounds, both are dreamlike and subtle before spinning neat hooks from troubled words. Los Angeles, Be Kind, meanwhile, with its talk of “unsuitable immigrant skin” and disjointed cityscape, boasts a gleaming chorus and a rich vocal.
On the other side of the coin, Hate Music’s coruscating guitars and percussive thud make Hutchison’s fears flesh, with Red Hand and Don’t Take Off The Gloves prizing blood as a central image. ‘Owl John’ isn’t always the easiest of rides but it’s a fascinating look at a songwriter stripped down to his bare bones. If it provides new impetus to Frightened Rabbit, then it will also do nicely as a benchmark.
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