MARTIN COURTNEY

Magic Sign (Domino) 

One British preoccupation is to look for a slice of prime location, so you may well be pleased that the frontman of arch indie-poppers Real Estate has downsized to a bungalow with another solo album as Martin Courtney. This second album, Magic Sign, isn’t that distinct from the Real Estate of In Mind.

Guitars that jangle, sleepy vocals, a resolute toe-tapping tempo and tunes bathing in the ‘here comes the sun’ golden glow between nostalgia and optimism – all elements are present and correct, so follow the Magic Sign to get temporarily lost and rediscover something familiar from a different perspective.

That said, Corncob weaves pedal steel with guitar and what sounds like a mellotron in a Teenage Fanclub style, Sailboat heads for the shores of new wave, Time To Go has a very Mac DeMarco 80s synth sound, and Exit Music is a very lovely tune to bow out on. 

words CHRIS SEAL