After starting his musical career in Dunedin (an essential element to any New Zealand guitar fiend worth their salt) Paul McLaney released Pedestrian in 1997 and The Prayer Engine (with The Avalanche Trio) in 1998. Now operating under new moniker Gramsci (the name is taken from an Italian political philosopher) McLaney has hooked up with local producer David Holmes to create an album that stems from folk rock roots. His sound is reminiscent of early 70's renegade Nick Drake, recent D.I.Y guy David Gray, even a little Brian Ferry, but he also lets technology eat away at the edges, with beeps and loops invading his sound to create a greater sense of space. Mclaney confesses his task is simple: the nature of his songs are still life, straight to the core of our emotional entanglements. Songs will always be songs he says after his recent release party for Permanence. No analysis of guitar vs electronic music will ever eliminate the human element of the song: music speaks to people in a way no other art form can. Take Coldplay, it's fresh because it's honest and emotional, it's not dressed up. I'm trying to do a similar thing; honest, unashamedly beautiful music that people can come and wash away their week with. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.