The Kingsbury Manx - "Let You Down" Album Review

Fortunately their blas attitude toward words doesnt carry through to their music. The North Californian quartet are onto their second album with this release. And after the unexpected phenomenal response to their debut of last year they have a lot to live up to.

With such a minimal back catalogue (and from an album that wasnt even going to see the light of day) they have already earned themselves a worthy reputation.

Let You Down is a low-key, unobtrusive look at life through the eyes of Kenneth Stevenson, Bill Taylor, Ryan Richardson and Scott Myers, four mealy-mouthed innocents who make music to match. Vocal comparisons can be drawn with Brain Eno and Kings Of Convenience whilst musically they take in the quiet end of Mogwai and Felt.

They display a great knack for creating displaced, off-beat beats and off-key chords. Heavy emphasis on drums as in Courtyard Waltz and the excellent electric guitar solo of Baby Youre A Dead Man keep this album well away from being pigeonholed as simply another new age folk album whilst the choice harmonies do nothing but relive it.

Let You Down is an unpretentious reverie from four boys next door, a cleverly constructed centrepiece that soothes, smoothes and proves theyre not just a one hit wonder.