Thurston Moore

Demolished ThoughtsMatador ***

A guitarist's guitarist and an artist prone (as a founding member of Sonic Youth) to experimentation and nagging dissonance rather than formula and cosy melody, Thurston Moore embraces the quieter side of his songwriting talents on his fifth solo album, a follow-up to 2007's Trees Outside the Academy. Which means that, like his friend J Mascis's recent solo acoustic/ folksy album, its amplifier setting is turned down to 3, its accessibility quotient is dialled up to 11, and songs of immense calm and reflection wash over you. Produced by Beck and often gorgeously enhanced by violin and harp, Demolished Thoughtshighlights aspects of Moore that are often unfairly overlooked: a fine lyricist, a decent vocalist, a skilled tunesmith. Seek this one out. See sonicyouth.com

Download tracks: Benediction, Blood Never Lies, In Silver Rain with a Paper Key