B-Movie Lightning

On Rain on a River, the debut from B-Movie Lightning, Mike Smalle comes off as incredibly self-confident and relaxed. This may be due to the fact that his Alma mater (indie pop band Cane 141) are well regarded and loved in their hometown of Glasgow. While many musicians create solo records to stretch their sound, Smalle uses B-Movie Lightning to rein it back in, crafting a more orchestral and structured version of Cane 141. Working off that rich, layered pop sound that defines former collaborators like Mark Eitzel, Sean O'Hagan and Super_collider, Smalle demonstrates a penchant for absorbing influences from his peers. The results, from the indie-electro-meets-big-brass feel of "The Spooky West" to the spaghetti western crawl of "New Love for Piano Orch," work as a great primer for the multi-dimensional, multi-talented multi-instrumentalist. On Rain on a River, Smalle takes a regional sound, adds swells of taste and ideas, and end up with something sophisticated.