An artist who always favoured the more spectral side of the spectrum, Dot Allison’s return is thrillingly Impressionistic. A hazy, Monet-esque layer of tones acts as her guide, but her first LP in 12 years is also shot through with riveting new ideas. ‘Shyness Of Crowns’ borrows techno’s repetitive minimalism, while ‘Moon Flowers’ rivals ‘Pet Sounds’ in its Baroque loveliness.
Dot Allison infuses these spartan templates with stunning colour; the fantastic closer ‘Weeping Roses’ may recall folkie Tim Hardin, but it owes a quiet debt to close friend Andrew Weatherall. An album of subtle transformation, there’s much to cherish here.
8/10
Words: Robin Murray
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