Although there are a few tracks that grapple with the idea of moving on, The Stillness manages to evoke more hope than melancholy, Abrams utilising a clutch of singers (he also sings in two tracks, Field Of Shadows and Zoos) to bring to life this warm, lush and meditative album.
Armed with a broad palette, Abrams paints cinematic scenes perhaps best exemplified by Buried By The Burden and 10-minute closer The Wilderness.
• Pacific Heights. The Stillness. Warner.
• Three and a half stars (out of five)
Single download: Drained (featuring Jen Turner)
For those who like: Massive Attack, Roni Size
- Shane Gilchrist