Dialing back some of the lush grandeur that characterized his 2019 debut, England's Francis Lung offers up a compelling sophomore set that falls somewhere between the sensitive early-'70s power pop of Emitt Rhodes, the melancholic introspections of Elliott Smith, and Field Music's tight craftsmanship. That may seem like a lot of cult hero names to drop right out of the gate, but while we're at it, toss in crafty pop auteurs like Van Duren and Todd Rundgren and you've got a good idea of where Lung sits in his musical tendencies. Recorded between rural Wales and the artist's home studio in Manchester, Miracle is reflective and deeply personal in the way classic singer/songwriter albums often are, pairing a strong sense of melodicism with gently experimental flourishes that result in a satisfyingly layered work. Like Rhodes and Rundgren, Lung takes the one-man-band route here, playing and singing every part on the album aside from the string sections which come courtesy of player/arranger Robin Koob. The highlights abound, ranging from punchy guitar and piano pop gems like "Bad Hair Day" and "The Let Down" to elegant balladry like the excellent "Blondes Have More Fun." Thematically inward-gazing, Lung reflects on matters of loneliness, substance abuse, and mental health, though the music comes across as inspired rather than overtly dour. In the process of writing, arranging, and recording Miracle's fine architecture, he seems to have overcome, or at least come to terms with, many of the demons he set out to face.