FIRE
Johnny Lynch, aka Pictish Trail, was rightly showered with praise for 2016’s Future Echoes. Now, four years later, in between running his own label, Lost Map, and curating the annual Howlin’ Fling festival on his Isle Of Eigg homestead, he’s back with a follow-up. Like its acclaimed predecessor, Thumb World features Lynch’s lovely soothing vocal (much like Ben Gibbard in his Postal Service guise), plus more beguiling electro-acoustic pop. Album standouts include the riff-happy Fear Anchor, lead single Slow Memories and the gorgeous Turning Back. Lynch worked on ideas for the album with graphic artist Swatpaz, one of the creators of legendary cult TV animation Adventure Time, and if the video for Slow Memories is anything to go by, the duo really have succeeded in creating their own world.