Francis Lung

★★★★ Miracle MEMPHIS INDUSTRIES. CD/DL/LP

Former Wu Lyf bassist invokes the spirit of Elliott Smith and others.

Three years after burnout Manchester buzz band Wu Lyf split in 2012, Tom McClung detoured into a stopstart solo career that has increasingly revealed a real melodic gift. This second album brings his talents into sharp focus, while tackling the sadly well-worn territory of mental health and substance abuse with a certain reflective calm and uplifting resourcefulness. It’s playful too – hangover pop song Bad Hair Day gear-shifts tempos between strummy ’80s indie and dreamy passages that recall Teenage Fanclub’s version of Big Star. Traces of The Beatles and The Beach Boys blow through without Lung losing his musical character, which for the most part is shaped by Elliott Smith. Even still, both the title track and Comedown (Again) are arguably up there with some of Smith’s best, and throughout Francis Lung turns dark emotions into bright and welcoming songs.