The best laid plans...

Lichen Slow - Rest Lurks

Opposites attract, the old cliche has it, but quite how Malcolm Middleton of Arab Strap and Joel Harries of Team Leader got together is unclear. However, the chance meeting of the pair has paid off handsomely with this debut from new act Lichen Slow.

Middleton is of course one half of Arab Strap, the acclaimed and occasionally foulmouthed Scots trio fronted by Aidan Moffat. Here, Middleton takes the lead for some of this selection of crafted tunes, including jaunty recent single ‘Preset’ which manages to get a radio-unfriendly 39 sweary words into its three minutes.

However, it’s not all about the words, or Middleton, or any one thing really. Harries – ordinarily part of ambient electronic act Team Leader (as well as instrumental noise band 72%) – brings his production skills as well as vocals to the table, but it’s a general contrast in the pair’s musical styles that makes this album special.

Middleton’s distinctive accent clashes pleasingly with Harries’ angelic tones, taking the lead on ambient tunes such as ‘Tense’ as well as the folkier melancholy of ‘It’s Not What We Thought’, while the indie chug of ‘Hobbies’ is brought soaring to life as the two bounce gloriously off each other.

Similarly, on ‘Sunshine Policy’ there’s a hint of the pair’s side interest in rock with distorted guitars, contrasting with the vocal contributions of Harries’ Team Leader bandmate Quincy May Brown on several tunes.

In all, 12 tracks that offer triumphant proof that sometimes things are just best left to chance.