Subvulutre – 27th November 2012

Crybaby, AKA Danny Coughlan, cuts through the swarm of singer-songwriters out there with bags of originality and a sharp cutting sound that reminds me of first listening to Johnny Cash – not in style but in the way all of the elements just work, in a way that’s hard to define. He is influenced by early rock ‘n’ roll, R ‘n’ B and Soul records.

Title track ‘We’re Supposed To Be In Love’ comes with a video that’s as simplistically brilliant as the song itself. The record is a stripped back affair of electric guitar, sparse drums and Crybaby’s unique voice. ‘True Love Will Find You In The End’ is a cover of a Daniel Johnston track, executed in such a way that you could be forgiven for thinking it was an original; this is one of those artists that you can’t help but believe they mean every word they sing. ‘Gloomy Sunday’ takes things down a notch, with just a guitar, rim-click and cymbal, and Crybaby’s vocal, which is drenched in haunting reverb.

The record is gloriously understated, the arrangements are simple but every part is necessary and would lose something if any more was added. Keep a look out for this man, playing Colston Hall on the 9th of December.