I have become a big fan of Arrange (aka 19 year-old Malcom Lacey), having originally covered his work back in June 2011. Earlier this week, Arrange released a new album called New Memory. After repeated listens over the last few days, I’ve come to the conclusion that New Memory is his strongest release to date. It is great to see how Lacey’s music has matured by listening through his back catalogue. The album follows a similar template to last year’s Plantation, with sombre electronics complimenting Lacey’s personal and confessional lyrics. This is an elegiac snapshot of family ties, particularly in relation to his mother (see Where I Go At Night and the brilliant sample at the end of North, of an exchange between a young woman and her son). Despite the plaintive, apologetic tone, the album also hints at hopeful new beginnings, which is what makes the title so fitting. Considering the themes and nature of the album, it should come as no surprise that this is an intimate record which is best suited to headphone listening
New Memory is available for download on a name your price basis from Arrange’s Bandcamp. The album has also been pressed to vinyl (as a result of a succesful Kickstarter campaign) and is available on a very limited basis from the online store.