LP - Stuart Moxham - Winter Sun

1LP - UK Import

Few artists arrive as compellingly yet elusively as did Stuart Moxham upon the startling debut of Young Marble Giants' sole studio album, "Colossal Youth". Moxham's lyrics were both intensely personal and woefully oblique. There seemed to be a sort of story in there.

The unexpected miracle of a deal with Rough Trade and the album's subsequent success had the band stymied for a second act and it wasn't long before the group disintegrated. None of the three YMG members have been especially prolific, but it’s Stuart's career that has seemed the least straightforward. I

n the case of his first "solo" full-length in thirty years, Stuart took the unusual step of entering an alien studio with American producer Dave Trumfio (who's also the leader of Pulsars and bassist for Mekons) and allowing him to decide what tracks (of a large number submitted by Stuart) to record, and how they'd be orchestrated. Or not. In this case - save for the writing and composing - it's really Dave's album as much as Stuart's.