At a push you could argue that the quality of his live shows are erratic and he occasionally lacks judgement (releasing both the About A Boy soundtrack and his second album proper Have You Fed the Fish? within seven months of each other lessened the impact of two brilliant records) but these are minor faults.

Before you even play the record, the sleeve notes give an indication of how it’s going to sound.  Essentially they consist of Damon Gough’s thoughts in what seems to be a year in the life of Badly Drawn Boy, but they’re not as you might expect all about parties, award ceremonies and fantastic gigs.  Instead he’s reflective and wistful, thinking about family and friends, dedicating the record to his granddad who was killed in the second World War, a friend who has died, and to Elliot Smith and Joe Strummer.  You can count on the fingers of one hand how many other musicians would do this and as a result you’re almost in love with the record before it starts.  

As the sleeve notes suggest, after the LA produced sheen of his last two records, Gough has gone back to basics for One Plus One is One.  Recorded at a studio in Stockport, of all places, and produced by his long time friend and Twisted Nerve co-owner Andy Votel, the songs are mostly acoustic or piano led, quiet and thoughtful.  The toy town melodies of About A Boy are still in evidence, but they’re more subdued. 

The title track and ‘This Is That New Song’ are indicative of the tone of the record – lush strings, gorgeous acoustic melodies (with, as usual, the addictive little hooks he manages to get into most of his songs) and his quietly reassuring vocals.  ‘Summertime In Wintertime’ is the only break to this pattern, his guitar plugged in and the melody upbeat.  The early tracks give way to mostly piano led songs like the sweet single ‘Year Of The Rat’ and ‘Four Leaf Clover’, which are just as good.  A real highlight is ‘Easy Love’, an unbelievably beautiful song of reflection which is perfect for summer, but will sound just as good in winter. 

This is without doubt a Badly Drawn Boy record, with the clever interludes between songs ever present, in addition to instrumentals like ‘The Blossoms’.  It’s also a return to the acoustic beginnings of Hour Of The Bewilderbeast but it’s not a retread.  Instead it is a mature, confident and expansive sounding record which takes time to get where it wants to go. 

As usual with Badly Drawn Boy, the journey is more than enjoyable and given this is his fourth great record in four years, you have to wonder if he will ever make a bad one.  Frankly, there’s more chance of hell freezing over. 
(4/5)

Release Date: 21 June 2004

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One Plus One Is One