Clayhill - 'Mine At Last' (Eat Sleep Records) Released 01/05/06

Most bands fire off each other by coming together from different places - Clayhill come together by buzzing off to different places. The band formed on the back of working with 'Beth Orton' with whom they have been on the road in support of her latest release. Comprising a three-piece from variant musical backgrounds are Ali Friend on double bass - formerly of Red Snapper; Ted Barnes on guitar and keyboards; and Gavin Clark on vocals - formerly of the promising act 'Sunhouse' who became the darlings of British movie director Shane Meadows ('A Room For Romeo Brass', '24 7'). Clayhill are a union with all the confidence and self assurance borne of their own artistic and personal histories that will see this album featuring high in listener's affections.

Like the creative collusion that brought John Martyn and Danny Thompson together, Clayhill take the British singer/songwriter sensibility with an organic, fluid and acoustic sound that provides calm and rich texture for the sonorous yet gruff, broody, articulate and pensive vocals of singer Gavin. Together 'Mine At Last' comes across as a work with emotional depths - a mood or weight like the British weather, ignited by clear skies.

Opener 'Beard' has the fun in abundance with a dainty melody, a jaunty rhythm and a ditty-like delivery with Gavin singing "...feel like I'm gonna crash..." yet manages to soar. 'One Nerve' possesses the Clayhill trademarks in abundance - with acoustic instrumentation, the double bass firm, the guitars struck with keyboards pounding and zylophone chiming, the melody swaying in the breeze, Gavin delivering "...are you gonna raze ground for me...your breaking me down/ one nerve at a time...". Comparisons are drawn to the at times emotive delivery of 'Talk Talk' on 'Hector's Laugh' - with a lyrical rhythm punctuated by piano and double bass, and the fine standout track 'Fortress' where the song-structure and instrumentation bring to mind the recent work of 'David Byrne' with cascading rhythms, Gavin speaking out to our feeling-natures.

The single 'Halfway Across' is one of the poppier numbers featured with a spring in it's step and a 'Dylan goes electric folky-flavour', Gavin delivering "...you're the last tree standing/ and I won't cut you down...". Uplifting numbers include 'Buy Me A New Suit' for it's rhythms, the artistry naked on 'Dying Breed' where Ali holds fast with the double bass, the six-string 'just so' and Gavin pleading in earnest "...you die and breathe...". Whilst there is no title track, 'After The Slaughter' does contain that very phrase to close this magnificent track, full of depth and feeling - the double bass played with a bow - firm and eloquent, the six-string melancholic and some adept keyboards, Gavin with an anthemic delivery - "...when I get to where I'm going...and you'll be mine/ mine at last".

Like a rare mountain orchid - 'Mine At Last' is an accomplished work of restrained power and magnificent beauty, a work that on further listens reveals the depths, the integrity and the accomplishment. This for me is the finest release of the year thus far. There's nothing more to complete the work - there's nothing to be added or taken away - it stands pristine. If fans of Joseph Arthur, Damien Rice, Nick Drake or David Gray haven't discovered Clayhill, "then 'tis 'bout time ya did".