Efterklang wunderkind and Bella Union darling Peter Broderick returns with his second solo full length release since 2008’s Home. Collaborator, composer and musician extraordinaire, with more instruments to his name than the average hot dinner consumption, Broderick is somewhat of whirling dervish when it comes to making music.

http://www.itstartshear.com is a exploration of a world of instruments, machines, instrumentals, layered vocals, spoken word, and all the grey areas in between. The gentle opener ‘I Am Piano’ rises and falls with the aid of strings and brass, sounding like a theme tune to a Jane Austen adaptation, before making way for vocals to close the track.

‘A Tribute to Our Letter Writing Days’ reflects its title’s nod to simpler times, again relying on strings and piano to provide the accompaniment in this gentle ode.

As http://www.itstartshear.com progresses it moves away from the initial traditional sound into more electronic realms. The title track ensures that the album’s website will forever be ingrained in memory, as the chorus repeatedly dictates the address, mixing a gentle soaring ambience with spoken lines. It feels like a marker in the album, a simple personal song, and a second introduction. The next track, ‘Asleep’, continues in the same vein, with a sparse sound comprised of vocals and piano in stark contrast to the lush layers of earlier tracks. At eight minutes, it begins with background mutterings, with swirls of confusion and a feeling of distance, ending with a blend of fragmented vocals and feedback. ‘With Notes On Fire’ is driven along with a rare appearance by a drum kit, with a vocal breakdown reminiscent of a quintessential ’80s track. Despitethe mix of ideas throughout the album, this track seems to jar slightly – not quite fitting in with its more reflective surroundings.

http://www.itstartshear.com, for all its different sounds, varied themes, and bilingual moments (the aptly titled ‘Words’), is tied together with the neat bow of Peter’s trademark intricate attention to detail, light vocals, and giving over of rhythm section duties to melodic instruments. This album is not one to have on in the background – despite its mellow, relaxing feeling there are intricacies and subtleties round every corner. A masterclass in music-making.