Schmotime

If Arab Strap and The Magic Numbers sat down to reach a compromise between the dismal and the blissful, they’d probably agree on something similar to Schmotime. Self-effacing and bittersweet, Absentee’s debut album is one of near endless charm. Such are the minor subtleties this album holds; it takes a few listens to come to such a conclusion. But once everything clicks, it’s impossible to understand why it took so long. A slow, instantaneous burner then..?

Prior to the album’s release, Absentee made their immunity to bullshit and hyperbole clear, saying that they “don’t need people gushing at them.” In this unhypable position then, and with its drunken tales of dead end relationships, Schmotime is an album for the mid to late twenty year old among us. It could also be a definitive one, because in Dan Michaelson, they may have found the voice of this languishing generation. With rasping vocal cords that sound as if they are sandpapered on a daily basis, Michaelson is Arab Strap’s Adrian Moffat with a PG sticker- equally droll, but a lot more likable. Lines as sharp as 'We Should Never Have Children’s' “Oh darling you’re no oil painting and I’m no Michelangelo,” are spat out with consummate ease.

Yet not once does a voice of such character overwhelm the listener, which is testament to the musicianship of the remaining members of Absentee, that. This is possibly the key to Schmotime’s understated grace. Whenever Michaelson is in less inspired form, guitarist Babak Ganjei steps in immediately. ‘Getaway’ owes everything to his driving guitar. Likewise Melinda Bronstein’s backing vocals are exquisite and her melodica tooting provides ‘Treacle’ with an almost Broken Social Scene like, rousing finale. Laurie Earle (bass) and Jon Chandler (drums) play their part too, as does the occasionally utilised brass of The Rumble Strips’ Tom Gorbutt and Henry Clarke.

But it’s the overall charm of Schmotime that is impossible to escape from. Whether this is revealed by the immediately poppy ‘Weasel’ or ‘Something To Bang’, or by the slower, more vulnerable ‘Duck Train’ or ‘Hey Tramp’, Michaelson will get to you every time. His duet with Bronstein on ‘You Try Sober’ is the best to-and-fro since Shane McGowan and Kirsty McCall had a go at each other nearly twenty years ago. Reminiscent of a great Tommy Tiernan joke of how women can be ferociously demanding when drunk, if forced to pick a standout track, ‘You Try Sober’ fits the bill.

But with the consistency on show here, that will probably change tomorrow. Schmotime is as accomplished a debut album as you’re likely to find this year. With it, should be the start of an accomplished career. Expect this one to feature heavily in many a poll come the end of the year.