Robert Scott - The Green House (Flying Nun)

This is another wonderful album from the Bats/Clean member, with help from Tiny Ruins (Hollie Fullbrook) on vocals. Scott is the quieter side of The Clean, always keeping it on the down low with his candlelit music. His carefully constructed tunes reveal the effort that has gone into them, despite having deceptively simple melodies. The music is unrushed and thoughtful, and Hollie’s alto tones complement Robert nicely. “Lights are Low” is a perfect example of late night music, to be savored like fine wine. “Lava” is sleepy and meanders softly, while “Lazy Boy” has some stellar harmonies and simply gorgeous music. The bucolic “Little Bird” reminds me of vintage Yo La Tengo, and “Right from Wrong” sounds like a great lost Bats tune. And then there’s “Vertigo”, a classic tune if I’ve ever heard one, but it’s jarring to hear it after all the back to nature music. Despite that, I could use a dozen more songs of this quality. Scott closes out the album with the trippy instrumental “Where the Frost Lies”, a strange footnote to an otherwise beautiful record.