We were pretty taken with our discovery of Algernon Doll’s debut long player, Camomile, last year. It was a record of uniquely off-kilter folk, and an often painfully raw and dark exploration of his struggles with extreme anxiety and bipolar disorder.

Now he is back with a follow-up in the shape of Citalo-pop, which is out now via Common Records. Taster track Anti-them indicates that this will be a different kettle of fish with the introduction of fuzzy guitars, layered vocals and no little distortion. In truth, this theme is carried throughout the record and is melded to tight, driven percussion and time changes galore.

The overall sense is one of ominous foreboding, still raw and unflinching, but this time using a more schizophrenic approach. Inspired by the likes of Red House Painters on Old Ramon, Mark Lanegan, Elliott Smith and Dinosaur Jr, there is no doubt that Algernon Doll continues to display a maturity beyond his years – you can order Citalo-pop via his Bandcamp page here.

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