Grayson Gilmour: Infinite Life! (Flying Nun)

When Grayson Gilmour signed to Flying Nun four years ago, back in that brief period when Roger Shepherd took control again of the label he had founded, there was considerable optimism that it might signal a rebirth for the label.

Gilmour was quite unlike most FN artists in that his music was multi-layered, his songcraft highy refined and, if nothing else, he composed on piano and not the strum'n'jangle guitar which was the label's aural fingerprint. There was something cinematic about his crafted and ambitious pop . . . and in 2012 he won best score at the New Zealand Film Awards for his music to the movie The Best Fun YOu Can Have Dying, and he has more recently done the soundtrack to the feature Shopping. 

Since that signing though Shepherd has moved out and while FN continues an interesting release schedule and has some very good young signings, much of the music is new albums by old familiars, and reissues.

Gilmour still seems a man out on an interesting limb at the Nunnery and this widescreen album of gloriously arranged songs confirm his reputation as someone who won't default to an easy option.

Throughout the songs featured layered vocals and Gilmour's airy voice is light but convincing. The glorious Tunnel Vision and Lockjaw Language here seems to take flight on wings of feathery psychedelia, updrafts of rolling synths and ethereal vocals.

Lichtung is perhaps the most conservative piece with a melody which, in an earlier life, might have graced a Brian Wilson album, and such is the consistency of the sound and material this feels more like a suite of sublime pop than discrete songs.

Only the surging Minus Times Infinity at the midpoint -- with its furious opening section -- threatens to break the arc, but then it too resolves into a more benign loveliness.

Infinite Life! is a real multiple-play keeper and each listening reveals yet another dimension.

Grayson Gilmour answers the Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire here.

(NB: This album is also available on limited edition vinyl through Flying Nun here. But hurry. When I ordered mine they were almost down to single figures. Can't wait to hear it on record.) 

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