Roo Panes - Paperweights (2016)

Two years on from Little Giant, Dorset-based Roo Panes returns with his second full-length album Paperweights. Where Roo described his debut as being about “encouragement, about small revelations of great significance”, he says the themes of the new record are “freedom, risk, vulnerability, moving on and letting go”. But while his lyrics, strongly emotional and poetic, have shifted gears, musically things are reassuringly familiar as his guitar is complimented by viola and cello, with occasional subtle brass and piano. If you’re familiar with Little Giant, you won’t be too surprised.

Musically, this is a very solid record, with nicely balanced arrangements behind Roo’s strong, often intense vocals. The production, as with the previous album, is absolutely first rate. But there is a weakness because the album lacks variety, particularly with a string of songs about the vulnerable in love. Individually, the songs are fine, but as a collection it can become a bit of a slog, particularly for the songs that are more musically restrained and lower in emotional tone.