Gramsci: Like Stray Voltage

Herald rating: ***

Auckland singer-songwriter Paul McLaney - with studio partner David Holmes - has ploughed his own independently minded furrow across six albums, released either under his own name or the collaborative designation Gramsci.

While past Gramsci albums have framed McLaney's voice against an electronica-enhanced art-rock backing, on Like Stray Voltage he hollers with a rock band. It sounds as if Gramsci hope to get their message across with sheer guitar'n'drum power.

Sometimes they do, especially on the U2-ish opener Fall to Earth, the Bowiesque rock of Code and Recovery - the best track, its instrumental swagger combining brilliantly with McLaney's voice. Among the lower-decibel tracks, All the Time in The World has a fine romantic swoon.

But elsewhere, it can sound overwrought. After its string arrangement initially threatens the Cranberries, Second Time Around suggests Simple Minds from their more bloated period and the six-minute finale Narrow Escapes could be saved only by buckets of dry ice.

Like Stray Voltage crackles when it's earthed in a decent song but fizzles when it isn't.

Label: Sony BMG