Holmes

Roy Shakked has been making and mixing dance music under a wealth of different aliases with enough success that he's had music featured in a quite a few movies and TV shows. Yet he's turned his back on dance and dusted off one of his earliest pseudonyms, returning to his musical roots as Holmes. Gone are the samplers and sequencers, because Holmes is all about classic '70s AM radio, and this second album demonstrates he's able to switch genres effortlessly. Holmes has a level of polish that can only come from someone who's been making music for some time. The songs are reminiscent of the likes of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Penn, or Ms. and Mr. Aimee Mann, depending on your point of view, with understated arrangements and plenty of piano. Even a lethargic cover of David Bowie's "Let's Dance" somehow comes off smelling like roses. Holmes is a slow burning, surprising album that takes some time before it reveals all its splendours but is well worth the investment.