Jim Noir – ‘My Patch’ (My Dad) Released 01/05/06

This is vaguely reminiscent of the lost and wonderful Position Normal. Beginning with some acoustic picking that could have come straight from a ‘Ghost Box’  release, ‘My Patch’ blooms into an eccentric pop song which reminds us of skiffle without sounding anything like it whatsoever. Brian Wilson harmonies and a celestial home-grown Hammond tops off the confection. There are some peculiar instrument sounds and the whole thing appeals due to an ambiguous production that confuses as to whether these noises are sampled or played. ‘Going on Holiday’ sends Mr. Noir overseas to Norway with barbershop backing and less effected strum until the vocals warmly blend with keyboard to paint big ****ing grin on your jaded face. Lovely, melodic and quirky but not irritatingly so. The Hot Chip mix is just ****ing awesome- a stuttering electronic hi-tech comet with all kinds of fragments and textures underpinned by scissor beats and vocal pyrotechnics. In short - brilliant