American, laid back, a bit folky, quite pleasant… Downpilot appear to have some success in the States, with some tracks on the TV series ‘One Tree Hill’ (the usual route to fame these days it appears) and this second LP is attempting to build on this.
It’s more of a solo affair for songwriter Paul Hiraga so there’s a lot of strumming, mid-paced songs, some piano and a few full band efforts as well. There’s no doubt he is talented, has a good voice and a way with melodies, but it’s hard to get excited about this collection. Having said that, songs like ‘Rustbelt’ are quitely melancholic, the shifting piano chords evoking something wistful and lost.