Oh! Mighty Engine (Bonus Track Version)

iTunes Review

A few big things happened in Neil Halstead's world between his 2002 solo debut Sleeping On Roads and 2008's Oh! Mighty Engine. In particular he was married and fathered twins, and it's likely no coincidence that his sophomore solo work features mature, flowing folk songs sequenced to grow on you with repeated listens. The title track opens with two acoustic guitars, tambourine and a mellow bass accompanying Halstead's hushed vocals. His wispy British accent and English slang contrasts nicely with Americana flavored pedal steel notes, recalling moments on Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left. "Little Twig" is a surfy ditty a-la Little Wings or Jack Johnson, but with Anglo-witted metaphors and production so intimate, you can hear Halstead inhale between phrases. Oh! Mighty Engine was partially tracked at L.A.'s Solar Powered Plastic Plant which may account for the natural and organic sound, even on songs with electronic bits like the catchy "Always The Good," which juxtaposes synthy beats with reedy Mellotron notes. "Baby, I Grew You A Beard" closes with a watery love song that only a grizzled surf-geezer could pen.