Focal Point was one of the most impressive debut albums of recent years and Paul Cusick continues to punch well above his weight on this sophomore release on his own label Q Rock Records, this time round with an atmospheric and emotional lyrical intensity added to his impressive musical armoury.
Cusick writes, produces and plays all the instruments (except drums, this time round impressively played by special guests Gavin Harrison and Marco Minnemann) and allows the songs to breathe, taking on their own dynamics in the open spaces.
Take a dollop of Porcupine Tree, a dose of Mostly Autumn, a dash of Peter Gabriel and a dusting of Dave Gilmour and you’re not a million miles away musically, but Cusick is forging his own identity, this time round adding breathy intimacy and brave self-exposure to a set of cleverly crafted songs that are challenging (‘God, Paper, Scissors’), emotionally raw (‘Waiting’) and understatedly post-progressive (‘Borderlines’).