As frontman with funky Scottish outfit Love And Money in the late Eighties, James Grant failed to dent the Top Fifty UK singles chart, while the most successful of the bands four albums was 1991's 'Dogs In Traffic', which reached the heady heights of Number 41.
Lack of commercial achievement hasn't lessened this man's songwriting skills though. This his second solo album is awash with warm, gentle and spacious country-tinged rock tunes, all topped with Grant's dark and velvety croon. Crisp acoustic strumming, lush strings, lonely bar-room piano and subtle brass are the order of the day here.
'My Thrawn Glory' is an album which takes its time. Laid-back, reflective, painstakingly crafted and tenderly touching. From the optimistic swell of 'Belle Of My Burlesque' through the desperate piano ballad 'Does It All Add Up To Nothing' to the jazzy twang of 'Blood Is Sweeter Than Honey' this is a romantic, life-affirming collection, with Grant's rich vocals having seldom sounded better.
Sadly shunted into a long forgotten siding marked great UK songwriters of the Eighties alongside Lloyd Cole, Dr Robert and the like, Grant may have to content himself with a much smaller audience than his talent deserves. But at least those of us in the know have him all to ourselves.
