Alastair Galbraith, Mass (side A)

2010's Mass is Galbraith's first widely-available solo album since 2000's Cry — a self-released 2007 CD called Orb disappeared before I even noticed that it existed.  Galbraith began releasing solo albums with 1993's Morse, which at the time seemed stark, personal, and introverted.  Each record since then has grown more withdrawn, with ever subtler vocal performances singing less memorable melodies.  The distorted guitars that brought a rock-like drive to parts of Morse have gradually disappeared as well.  Mass feels like a logical next step in Galbraith's evolution.  It retains the beauty of his songs and fragile vocal performances, while presenting referents that will only be familiar and reassuring to those already steeped in his catalog.  Mass feels slightly less murky than some of his other releases, but it retains their distinctive lo-fi charm.  Occasionally an instrument in one song is much louder than everything else on the album, and the obvious clumsiness feels appropriate for his work.  The cover image too is slightly crisper, while retaining the austere design style that's another constant in Galbraith's ouevre.