I Am KlootFirst popping up around the turn of the century and lumped in with the nascent 'quiet is the new loud' movement of the time (see: Starsailor, Travis and a pre-Gwyneth Coldplay), Manchester's I Am Kloot have always had more in common with friends and collaborators Elbow than any long forgotten Northern wailers – and not just in their relative longevity. In fact, Guy Garvey (on production and arrangement duties here as he was for previous effort Sky At Night) has listed Kloot's front man John Bramwell as a major influence – lauding his Lennon-esque songsmithery as “far in advance of my own”. This assertion, as well as the band's general stick-to-itiveness, finally paid off in 2010 as they were nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize.
As I Am Kloot's seventh record, there is an established sense of familiarity to this delightful collection of tunes. The title track proves an early highlight, as drummer Andy Hargreaves and bassist Peter Jobson provide laid back and comfortable accompaniment to a familiar Bramwell meditation on his infamous ramshackle lifestyle. “I haven't got a job or a hobby or an occupation” he laments – his weary tone entirely convincing. On Mouth On Me things are bit more upbeat, though no less street worn as an apologetic Bramwell regretfully recalls lost time and no less than a few regrets. It's all put together with deft humour though, and the earnest way in which Let It All In endears to the listener is a skill in itself. I Am Kloot may not have the popularity or sales figures of their Mancunian counterparts, but another solid showing here proves them to be no less consistent or charming.
