Goths (Deluxe Edition) vinyl

Nobody is more adept at chronicling the why, wherefores, follies and foibles of the subcultural weirdo than offbeat auteur John Darnielle, whose wry, reflective ditties have the unerring ability to bear wiseacre titles like 'Andrew Eldritch Is Moving Back To Leeds' whilst remaining affecting, intriguing, and something very much beyond a hipster in-joke. Made entirely without guitars, 'Goths' as one might expect deals largely with the black-clad and the sullen of disposition, but with a lightness of touch matched by ornate arrangements and laid-back melancholia at its disposal, it's a first-rate salvo from a uniquely perceptive and potent songwriter.