Micah P Hinson - And The Gospel Of Progress
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Micah's debut single was a sprawling eight minute gospel epic and rather than be a focal point on 'The Gospel Of Progress', it became a fitting end for the album's closer. Instead, Micah chooses to write relatively low-key numbers helped out by his collective backing group - featuring members of The Earlies, who are better known for their dream-like psychedelics awash with electronics. Rather than become an obvious influence on the shape of the album's overall sound, this partnership is only notable on the intro of 'Yourself Asleep Again', with it's serene synthesizers.

Most tracks are based around his booming, smoke damaged vocals which, reminiscent of Smog or Bonnie Prince Billy, become the lead instrument in itself. Backed by understated background music of simple acoustic guitars, piano and the occasional drum, lyrics of love and yearning domimate throughout. Only in the faster parts of 'Don't You Forget' and 'Possibilities' does the music become the lead part and fully realised, as the session band take Micah's music to the main emphasis, adding an extra kick to the already powerful songs.

For someone of only 22 years, Micah writes incredibly mature and emotive songs of personal experience for one of the definitive highlights of 2004.