Dial M for Monkey

Simon Green’s 2000 debut, Animal Magic, still sounds marvellous on a moonlit night, if indistinguishable from dozens of downtempo albums that took inspiration from it. Green’s been raking in the royalties since that influential first outing, leaving a Moby-style dilemma for his sophomore effort: could Dial M for Monkey follow the formula and become a commercial success or would it manage to surprise? In truth, Green’s pony has fewer tricks. It’s no massive departure, whatever the intention. As the title suggests, Dial . . . sticks to its predecessors’ cinematic formula, letting Green’s glorious melodies seep into the consciousness gradually, then buzz around the head like a trapped gnat. "Pick Up" raises the tempo, but Green’s ear for a key-change eventually takes things to moodier depths, remaining there with "Something for Windy" and "Light Pattern." Like the shy kid who secretly prefers violin to gym, Green probably couldn’t change tactics if he tried. Good thing, too.
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