Forever destined to remain outside the door marked “commercial”, the former Microdisney and Fatima Mansions stalwart continues to make music in his own image. His first outing since 2002’s The Sky’s Awful Blue, Foburg, a concept album of sorts, features sections of Flannery’s Mounted Head, the song-cycle with visual elements he premiered last year in Cork, as part of the city’s European Capital of Culture celebrations.
It’s not as opaque as it might sound and even the most casual Microdisney fan will find reference points to his pop past if they listen close enough. With its echo-laden guitar, cello, piano and crisp drums, ‘Ophelia Crescent Is Burning’ is gloriously melodic, with Coughlan’s distinctive, Scott Walker-like voice never sounding better. Speaking of the 60s legend, the title-track is redolent of his classic cover of Brel’s ‘Jackie’ in its verse construction.
Other highlights include the doleful, downbeat ‘Epiphany Season’; the acoustic-driven and Latin-flavoured ‘Big Wax Hand’; and the closing ‘Asunderland’, which is almost Zappa-esque in its structure.
The backing throughout is sublime, suitably restrained and recorded mostly live with a timeless almost theatrical atmosphere. He takes these songs to the live stage in November – should be intriguing.