Sondre Lerche - 'Two Way Monologue' (Virgin) Released 16/08/04

I’ve always been a firm believer in the old punk adage that an ability to write and play music need not necessarily be a prerequisite for joining a band. Factors such as passion, energy and commitment should always come much further up the list.

Still, it’s always good to hear someone who combines all these factors with a side order of actual skill. And skill is something Norway’s Sondre Lerche has in spades. Lerche is no genius, but a great craftsman. It’s an important distinction to make. His songs don’t sound as if they appeared fully formed from a preternaturally gifted mind like the best work of Stevie Wonder or Prince, but you can hear and feel the hours of work, of craft, that have gone into creating each perfect pop moment.

It’s deeply unfashionable music, and all the better for it. Lerche’s forbears are the likes of Prefab Sprout or Lloyd Cole, fellow devotees to the lost art of producing quality pop music. His love for The Beach Boys is palpable – it’s even possible to imagine it’s them guesting on 'Wet Ground', but staggeringly all the voices belong to Lerche himself. Less surprising is the presence of fellow Brian Wilson enthusiast Sean O’Hagan (from The High Llamas) who contributes some lush string arrangements to preceedings.

Throughout, Lerche’s enthusiasm is tangible. He never get’s lost in showboating – Two Way Monologue is never merely an exhibition space for his talents. The songs feel very much like performances, not just studio creations, and his band, The Faces Down deserve an equal share of the credit for their understated input.