fourty one: Alan Pownall

There's no denying that Alan Pownall is extremely good-looking, but let's just take a break from all that tireseome swooning and consider the oh so wonderful music he makes!

Although on the face of it, Alan may seem to fit into the fashionable, gentile male singer/songwriter persona, he seems to have come out of his shell in months of late.
Earlier this year tracks such as Colourful Day and Heart of Hearts graced his page. Colourful Day was quiet and shy but at the same time had something to say. Lyrics such as "It's rude to point/But attention's what I want/And she told me that I look like David Bowie" really caught the attention and moved you, the listener, with an ease that I still personally find completely addictive.

Heart of Hearts ran in the same vein, Pownall's lyrics retaining a simplistic memorability that seems to be unique to him and him alone. The content seems to be about not quite knowing what's happening around you, there are several questions raised throughout the duration, that act as witticisms, bound to play a smile across your face ("Do you wear those big boots to keep your feet on the ground?"). There's also a certain rhythm to the track that makes it a shoe in for any slow dance you'd like to introduce to a party.

A fair few months ago however, Alan introduced a couple of new songs to listeners. Slide Through The Walls stuck out like a very bolshy, very different thumb. It had an edge to be reckoned with and certainly stands out in any context. Danger and intrigue shine out as Pownall plays and this sustains throughout the whole track. The 'breakdown' towards the end is very effective in raising the song out of its, already high, grounding. Once again the lyrics are strong, but this time calculating and snarling "I was cold, you were shy/You were never one to turn it on".
The second of the more recent songs, The Others, is more comparable to the earlier material. With added violins and what sounds like a record on a turntable, The Others has a crooning, wistful likeability to it that is delicious and relaxing all at the same time.

Listen to Slide Through The Walls here.