A follow up album worth the listen.

On his sophomore LP, British producer Daniel Woolhouse moves forward from his somber debut of 2013 toward somewhat of a sense of resolution. While his first record was weak trembling, Songs is lightness with a glaze of groove.

What keeps this album in its gentle place is the dilution of heavy bass and the faintest sense of melody. Woolhouse’s half-falsetto glides atop keys and chords of matching notes, while sparse drum-pad pangs are the only sense of time.

Sonically, the framework transferred over to this record. But the lyricism changed. Now Woolhouse sings about the solitude within marriage, the insecurities that remain even when so fully in love. “If you want me you can have me till the end of time” would sound sappy but Woolhouse masks his lines of personal inspiration with tender soundscapes.

Songs probably will sound best as a whole, otherwise it may be shrugged off as too stripped down. But the curation of each instrument and synth hides the deeper dimensions so cleanly and a few tracks can be picked out and stand alone. Songs like “The Loop”, the fullest, steadiest and most diverse on the album and “Two Hearts”, the warmest and most uplifting are such examples.

Overall, Songs has no shortcomings. It is meticulously produced and thematically consistent. You might not think this sounds like your kind of thing, but you also might be pleasantly surprised.

RIYL: Rhye, The XX, Perfume Genius, Vondelpark
Recommended Tracks: 3, 5, 6, 9-11