Malcolm Middleton – ‘A Brighter Beat’ (Full Time Hobby) Released 22/01/07

Former Arab Strap multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Middleton has made a living out of misery. As part of the now-defunct Falkirk duo, he spent 11 years peddling seedy, sweaty tales of cheap booze, late nights and sexual perversion, and his burgeoning solo career seems to be running along the same thematic lines.

However, while the ‘Strap used to mumble sometimes incoherent lyrics over a morose guitar line, Middleton’s work is much rockier, with more of a musical nod to Idlewild and Snow Patrol (before they were crap) than anything else. However, a leopard doesn’t change his spots simply with a solo record or two, and Middleton brings anyone hoping for a more sunny outlook back to reality with caustic lyrics like “We’re an army, around the country/ All Stuck in a Room/ Takes a lot of effort/ To make any move”.