Field Recordings, Bellyup **

Bell X1 and subtlety aren't the most natural of bedfellows, so an acoustic record is an intriguing prospect. Will pared-back arrangements reveal the clarity and beauty of the writing, or will the songs collapse without their exoskeletons? The result is somewhere in between. Recorded on the band's 10th anniversary tour of Europe and North America, the album has a pleasingly relaxed atmosphere born of sympathetic audiences and small rooms, while the treatments (banjo, harmonica and synth supporting the acoustic guitar and piano) display a disarming lightness of touch. But it's all rather dull; 21 tracks over two hours will try anyone's patience, especially when so much of it is devoted to maudlin ballads. Even Flame and Sugar High struggle to quicken the pulse. And, sadly, Paul Noonan's knuckle- chewing lyrical gaffes are more exposed than ever. A memento for the faithful. bellx1.com

Download track: Sugar High