The Miserable Rich - 12 Ways To Count

Named quite cleverly after privileged miseries the principle songwriters saw at an exclusive Italian wedding, and now swollen to including a string quartet, Brighton outfit The Miserable Rich are clearly marketing themselves as the thinking man’s folk.

Opener ‘Early Mourning’ is full of promise, a sparse and haunting arrangement with a strident Cello ending reminiscent of Elbow stripped down to the bare essentials. Sadly, this proves to be the highlight of an otherwise sombre and unremittingly bleak album. Second track ‘Pisshead’ seems to be a morose paean to the common affliction of alcohol abuse and from here on in the tone is set. Interesting track titles such as ‘The Knife Throwers Hand’ and ‘The Barmaids Cannon’ seem to hint at a wit which is sadly missing from the music within; the rather frugal arrangements and introspective vocals difficult to connect with.

Fans of Sparklehorse or Tindersticks would perhaps appreciate the musical quality at play, however it may also make them want to leap off their ladder into a tray of Crown enamel.