(Smog)'s Bill Callahan is now on his 10th album of darkly observational, mischievous misanthropy, and his fascination with human behaviour continues apace.
On the opening Feather by Feather, he delights in watching a rival's fall from grace: "You're losing your wings... love the way they whip away." By the exquisite closer, Guiding Light, he is like a vampire, taking refuge in the darkness.
Supper could be an album of charmless loathing, but Callahan's humanity and bone-dry humour always save the day. The songs allow our hero to place himself in imaginary situations, several concerning illicit liaisons: in the almost sentimental Our Anniversary, he plans a moonlight flit before realising his wife has hidden the car keys.
However, Callahan is best when blurring the madcap with the macabre, and Truth Serum gloriously tells of the consequences when a group of friends pour out their secrets. Musically, it's a gentler than usual mix of quietly coaxed melodies and Velvet Underground chugs.
Not one to convert the millions, but manna from heaven for Callahan devotees.
