Album of the Day: M Craft's Blood Moon - delicate, heart-bursting songs

Blood Moon
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Artist: M Craft
Genre: Rock
Label: Heavenly

Many singer-songwriters have gone in search of soul in secluded spots, and Martin Craft’s decision to spend time in a cabin on the edge of California’s Mojave desert has paid huge dividends.

There is a beautiful small hours tingle to these delicate, heart-bursting songs. Many of them began as solo piano pieces recorded in LA before Craft was struck by inspiration on the edge of the Joshua Tree park and expanded the envelope.

Blood Moon is the London-based troubadour's third album, and he has found a breakthrough scale and pitch for his evocative songwriting skills. New Horizons, Midnight and the title track remind you of the manner in which Bill Fay, Liam Hayes and Mark Hollis have added riches to the canon, and it's clear that Craft's star- gazing and desert blues are very much the sound of an artist finding his mojo. Craft by name, craft by nature.