Mister Mann is the solo album project of John Mann, lead singer and songwriter of the Vancouver folk pop band Spirit of the West. After over a decade of touring the UK, Europe and North America with Spirit, December Looms is a return to his stripped down Alt Folk roots. Its a record gift wrapped in contrasts; the sparsest arrangements provide the richest and fullest of sounds. The darkest tales of caution and struggle are bound in the most appealing melodies. Half confessional, half observational, emotionally honest lyrics capture the intimate moments of Mann's home town of Vancouver and its occupants, the fragile details of their dysfunctional love and the loss of a city's innocence. Its a deceptively simple album whose songs mostly clock in at around 2 1/2 minutes but the short vignettes are rich and complete as everything strummed and sung feels necessary and full of purpose. If Damien Rice was Jeff Tweedy and Jeff Tweedy was Josh Ritter you'd come away with something kindred to December Looms.
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