Despite falling under many radars, Jacob's Stories debut full-length Fledging swiftly became a firm favourties at Midget Towers upon its release back in 2006. Managing to unite a whole array of writers and photographers with highly dispirate tastes, it was a remarkale album that signaled the arrival of one of the UK's best kept secrets. Limited to a mere 500 copies, each lovingly crafted with individual artwork by mastermind Stuart Lee, sophomore long-player Undisciplined Art deserves to propel its creator to stardom. Armed with a voice that could thaw even the sternest of hearts from a thousand paces, it's Lee's fragile falsetto that frequently helps elevate Undisciplined Art into uncharted territory. The slowburning slumber of '£50 Guarantee' opens proceedings in a typically unorthodox manner, with a gentle piano complimenting Lee's delicate tones, while the string soaked 'The Christian And The Queer' is the nearest to radio-friendly as the Brighton-based troubadour gets, a beguilingly gorgeous offering that could well be the best thing he's penned to date.

A British indie needs to snap up Jacob's Stories and give Undisciplined Art the full release its unerring quality warrants, as if this album was put out by more of a household name it would have already have been widely lauded as one of 2008's very finest releases.

Rating: 5/5 by Dan Jones

Tracklisting

1. £50 Guarantee
2. The Wasp Catcher
3. God's Rottweiler
4. The Christian And The Queer
5. You Old Romantik
6. My Puppyfat Casanova
7. Hell, Brighton, Home
8. Dear Mr. Pearson
9. Slow Waltz Into A Fire
10. Carol White

Further links

Jacob's Stories (jacobs-stories.co.uk)

Official site of the stunning Stuart Lee project

Jacob's Stories on Myspace

Official myspace of the chillingly good British solo artist