One Track Mind

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When vocalist Louis Warner’s band The Hotels broke up in 2004, he decided to team up with producer Jason Emberton to launch the next phase of his musical career. After fielding contributions from various musicians, the pair added bassist Crawford Blair to the mix and the result was High Above the Storm. The London trio released their self-titled debut LP in late September after a fairly DIY recording process; the tracks were recorded in the band’s studio, with the subsequent takes mixed and mastered by Emberton himself.

“Last Year’s Man” is the third cut from High Above the Storm and boasts the sort of slick production most bands don’t find until find a spot on a major label roster. Which isn’t to suggest that the sound is too polished–far from it. The aesthetic here helps situate the band among many of their Brit-pop brethren. There are touches of Athlete‘s soaring, electronic-kissed pop, the moody temperatures of Elbow, and the sharp energy The Charlatans have rediscovered on their last album. Warner’s soft, at times almost spoken-word delivery instantly evoke Bono (of all people) and works marvelously with the more electric instrumental backing. At just under five minutes in length, “Last Year’s Man” has a smidgen of the epic tilt to it, its sinews tensing and relaxing several times throughout. However, it always remains focused and taut.