Alexander’s Festival Hall - Upturned

Part-Jens Lekman, part Neil Hannon in style and delivery Alexander’s Festival Hall are here with ‘Upturned’. It’s been described by its creator as ‘romantronica’ and ‘a micro-epic; tiny-ness at scale.’

The man who said these words is Alexander Mayor. He’s previously appeared in Kompakt band Baxendale and worked as a producer with the likes of Piney Gir. His credentials, then, are there for all to see.

This, his debut single, has that late night, returning from the club, existential vibe as the omnipresent narrator acts as a floating head peering over the capital. The song follows two people on the verge, up on the roof, contemplating.

Mayor has cited Haruki Murakami and PG Wodehouse as influences but this song owes more to Nick Hornby’s ‘A Long Way Down’ with lyrics such as ‘Not a dry eye in London or a sad song that could overcome, to the rooftops he took in one step.’

Gurgling glacial synth parts build up and military drumming comes in for what could be called a chorus. As the song comes to its denouement he sings over and over: ‘When will we be upturned for all to see.’

Like The Postal Service if they were defiantly English, the cleverly understated progression and mix of the traditional and the new makes this a touching ballad about staring out over the edge and wondering.

‘Romantronica’? We’ll see.