Fyfe Dangerfield fell head over heels in love and decided to make a record. While the sentiment certainly isn’t unique, the
Guillemots frontman’s solo debut isn’t content to just park its protagonist beneath his lovers’ window with a ukulele and a dozen roses (for the whole album, anyway).
Dangerfield tries to capture the violent impact of Cupid’s arrow through 12 slabs of soulful, schizophrenic indie pop, and the results are as wildly erratic as their subject matter. When
Fly Yellow Moon succeeds, like on its spirited, euphoric first single “She Needs Me,” the listener’s heart swells along, savoring every
ELO-meets-
Van Morrison-meets
Dexy’s Midnight Runners drop of bliss, but there are far too many barebones, acoustic love letters like "Livewire," "Firebird," and "Don’t Be Shy," all three of which are lovely in sentiment, but wear out their welcome after the four-minute mark. Unlike his work with the
Guillemots, who manage to test the track limits of modern recording with each new album,
Dangerfield’s solo foray is a (for the most part) sparse production (it was recorded in just five days), and that extra room is a little jarring at first, but fans of the band, as well as the elusive quarry that is love, will no doubt walk away from
Fly Yellow Moon a step or two lighter. ~ James Christopher Monger