JOHN GRANT

Boy From Michigan

A summer spent crashing at Elton John’s London pad could have betokened a return to Queen Of Denmark-style AOR. But Grant’s fifth solo album, produced in Iceland by the reliably odd Cate Le Bon, pushed his avantsynthpop tendencies to the fore (Chris & Cosey were a benchmark). The lush melodies remained, though, with Grant reframed as a radical crooner as he conjured memories of smalltown sexual awakenings. Standout track:

Mike And Julie