Philip Selway – Weatherhouse

Tepid, drab, uninspired balladry…

Radiohead drummer Philip Selway returns with a second solo collection, attempting to build on the unspectacular, electro-infused folk songcraft of 2010’s debut album ‘Familial’.

Sadly, he doesn’t succeed.

‘Weatherhouse’ boasts two great tracks: the swirling, pleasantly introspective ‘It Will End In Tears’ (video below), and the subtle, gradually escalating, sparkling grandeur of ‘Waiting For A Sign’. But elsewhere, Selway churns out tepid, drab, uninspired balladry (‘Don’t Go Now’ and ‘Ghosts’).

The mask of the brooding troubadour doesn’t quite fit: the LP is marred by below-par, uninspired vocals and rudimentary lyrics, with ‘Coming Up For Air’ and ‘Around Again’ being the worst offenders. On the basis of ‘Weatherhouse’, Thom Yorke has little to worry about in terms of inter-band solo competition.

5/10

Words: Benji Taylor

– – –

– – –

Buy Clash Magazine

Get Clash on your mobile, for free: iPhone / Android

Listen to ‘Weatherhouse’ in full via Deezer, below…

-
Join the Clash mailing list for up to the minute music, fashion and film news.