Remember Remember Remember Remember

Remember Remember (no comma, therefore unpopular with Microsoft Word's spell check software) is primarily the work of one Glasgow musician, Graeme Ronald. His lush, beautiful début record was released in late November on Mogwai's Rock Action label, to relatively hushed acclaim. Those who did find the time to write about Remember Remember, however, seemed to be united in their appreciation, and with just cause.

I can vividly remember slotting this album into the wooden CD rack that I use to store the more interesting looking promos I receive. At the time I suspected it was the work of a young post-rock outfit (the Mogwai connection, a hindrance in this case, rather than the seal of approval it should have been) and subsequently avoided listening to it for a good two months. But now, as the gorgeous pastoral sound of Imagining Things (i) fills my headphones, I'm kicking myself for letting my prejudices stand in the way of a great album. And make no mistake, this is a great album.

The first thing to make clear: this is not post-rock. If you're looking for the next Mogwai (and if you are, seriously, why?) you're not going to find it here. The record subtly explores an expansive terrain of instrumental music; there are gentle flashes of electronic instrumentation, most prominently the beats and treated synths in The Dancing, but these are merely brief interruptions in what is chiefly a rich, organic-sounding album. There is no dominant instrument, as piano, acoustic guitar, clarinet, violin, and various horns all make vital contributions. Aside from a few gentle oohs and aahs the human voice is largely absent from Remember Remember, but this is not a major loss; Ronald's compositions evoke an impressive range of emotions and themes that the inclusion of banal lyrics would only cheapen.

At its most electronic, Remember Remember reminds me of the music of Dan Snaith circa Up In Flames (the frequent use of found sounds also supports this comparison); at the more acoustic, ambient end of its spectrum, I'm led to think of artists as diverse as Mice Parade, Brian Eno and Melodium.

Remember Remember might not have captured the imagination of a music press more preoccupied with compiling its end of year lists than unearthing the next great Glaswegian musician, but that's not a reflection on the quality of Graeme Ronald's creation. This is a genuinely stunning achievement and without a doubt one of the strongest débuts of 2008. I know we're all very excited about 2009 but you'll have to trust me here: this is one 2008 release worth going back for.