The reluctantly rabble-rousing Gene were a more thoughtful band than the unambiguous Britpop era allowed, but after eight years away, front-man Martin Rossiter seems uncharacteristically comfortable alone at the piano.
His unadorned debut’s starkly sparse opener, a ten minute minimalist meditation on failed fatherhood entitled Three Points On A Compass, is an unequalled highpoint, but tunes pitched somewhere between Wesleyan psalms and torch songs prove perfect vessels for Rossiter’s articulate, blackly comic lyrics.
You lost a 20th century indie band to gain a 21st century solo artist.
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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John Robins, Comedian
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Idrie, Youtube
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Etienne, Chortle.com