We’ve made no bones about our adoration of the Mancunian band Elbow.  The last year-plus has been a prolific period for the band, but turns out Elbow’s band members had even more in the wings.  Leader Guy Garvey has just surfaced a critically-acclaimed (no shock there) album entitled Courting the Squall.   While the vocals remain the glorious same on the solo album, there are added musical flourishes, such as more horns, lutes, keys, beats and jazz elements.  Lyrically, Garvey remains his terse, poetic self.  The songs’ narratives naturally parallel Garvey’s personal life, including his split from a long-term love (as also heard on Elbow’s last album, The Take Off and Landing of Everything), and, apparently, his new-found love.  Suffice it to say, the album is completely grand.  Yet again. We expect nothing less from Guy Garvey.

To get a feel, check out below the official videos for the brooding title track and musically-grittier, ’60s film-soundtrack smack of Angela’s Eyes.  Superb stuff.

You can see his upcoming European tour dates and pick up Courting the Squall HERE.