Debut album from Leeds artist.
Leeds based singer Paul Marshall releases his debut album 'Vultures', after working to hone his craft over a number of years. Opener 'Valkommen' is a mere minute in length and an acoustic instrumental, easing the listener into the album. 'Greenfly' thankfully does feature the addition of lyrics, and is a meander through accomplished acoustics and lyrics that are well expressed and humorous, such as "I felt as old as the size of my shoes".
'Alcatraz' follows similar territory in its sound and indeed this is an album that stays within its chosen guise throughout. There are few elements of surprise but one assumes that isn't the point. Instead the listener is treated to some skilled strumming and touching lyrics "when I lost my mind it washed up on the shores of Alcatraz". 'Spectres' is a more gentle song amongst a collection of sensitive songs, made so by the inclusion of a glockenspiel. Here and on the following song 'Knives in My Spine' Marshall seems to be heavily under the influence of Nick Drake, something the despondent angle of the lyrics also serves to support.
As acoustic songs go 'Sea Full of Trains' is a more upbeat effort, with a more energetic plucking adding a more frantic effect to a song seemingly about sudden and tragic death. 'Leave' returns to the more downbeat laments featured elsewhere on these albums, and indeed by this point Paul Marshall appears to be a champion of poignant and downright disturbing lyrics with this song in particular referring to slaughterhouses and imminent death. Closer 'Alvsbyn' also refers to death and seems a fitting end for an album heavy under the weight of its own sombre themes. That is by no means a criticism though as the simple style and well written lyrics combine to create a very stirring album which should lead to much more talk about Mr Marshall very soon indeed.