Although Speak When I'm Spoken To is Roy Moller's debut solo album, he's actually something of an elder statesman of the Scottish indie scene, reflected by the fact that the album features contributions from former members of DHK and current members of Belle & Sebastian (also, the cover design is by Ron Bookless, who long-term readers may remember did some fantastic illustrations for some of my old fanzines). Sounding a bit like a psychedelic Nick Heyward (oh alright then, an even more psychedelic Nick Heyward), with breezy sixties-influenced arrangements that fall somewhere between Kevin Ayers' Joy Of A Toy and Petula Clark's Colour My World, Speak When I'm Spoken To is worth a listen for its relentless upbeat-ness alone. As it's also crammed full of punchy pop hooks decorated with backwards guitars and radio-friendly sitars, it sits several miles above most of the other miserable Deacon Blue-a-like dullards currently masquerading as 'indie' and getting all the plaudits, and anyone with even half a liking for Belle & Sebastian or others of similar quality are directed towards this superb album.

Out On Blue Six, Jan 07