Morton Valence

★★★★ Bob & Veronica’s Great Escape BASTARD RECORDINGS. CD/DL

London duo’s not-sodifficult sixth album.

One of the great mysteries of the early 21st century is why Morton Valence are not better known. With their full-bodied melodies and understated delivery, all the factors when they garnered Radio 2 singles of the week and were Fopp’s best new band of 2006 are still very much intact. We first met the titular duo – the alter egos of Robert Jessett and Anne Gilpin – in 2009 on their debut album, Bob And Veronica Ride Again. Here, the escape they offer is a break from the darkness and drama of the modern world. Morton Valence’s brand of urban country animates their colourful cast of characters; it’s present on Hey Misty (“play it for me one more time”); Pretty Little Crystals has a refrain to die for and Black Eyed Susan marries Nick Cave and Billie Jo Spears.