This debut solo album from the not-so-prolific founder of atmospheric Scottish pop band the Blue Nile (they released only four albums in 20 years) is so delicate and quiet you fear it might break into pieces. And that's what makes it so moving and exquisite. Buchanan's soothing, often intensely fragile croon recalls Tom Waits, only it's devoid of the grizzled, punchy roughness. Or maybe a less seductive Bryan Ferry. Sometimes it's even hard to hear what he's saying, like on My True Country (though, thankfully, it is easy to make out the lovely line "dance the only edge with me, and we will see as far as we can see").
Mostly accompanied by a solitary and spare piano, his observations are simple, yet stunning. For example, on Wedding Party he sings, with deft phrasing, "I was drunk ... when I danced ... with the bride", and "there are tears ... in the car park ... outside". But perhaps most stirring of all - thanks to the injection of strings, not to mention a bit more movement and volume - is the instrumental Fin De Siecle near the end.
It might sound like the sort of album only a Blue Nile fan could love, but its beauty, tenderness and honesty makes Mid Air a truly moving piece of music.
Stars: 4/5
Check out My True Country, the first track taken from Paul Buchanan's debut solo album.
