Stephen Hero

Thanks to the like-named punk elder statesman Patrik Fitzgerald, former Kitchens of Distinction frontman Patrick Fitzgerald has to make a name for himself under an alias, Stephen Hero. With ex-bandmate Julian Swales providing guitar and effects and former Weather Prophet Dave Morgan on drums and programming, Fitzgerald split his time between tucked-away locales of England and Ireland to concoct this homespun-sounding debut, a half-hour of grounded, stripped-down introspection. So in a sense, the title Landed wears well. The effect given isn't nearly as stratospheric as Kitchens' prevailing billowy textures, and Fitzgerald's voice is given to less soaring than before. The liposuction-like vacuuming that introduces the gospel intro "Walden" might as well symbolize this reduction of airborne elements. Fitzgerald's bookish songwriting remains at the polar opposite of innocuous; if anything, his new outlet will bring further focus to his accomplished lyricism, since Kitchens caught a fair amount of their notice due to sheer sonics. Swales displays the required restraint on guitar for a singer/songwriter record, supplying a mixture of shapely acoustics and electrics throughout; his mastering of stormy atmospherics acts as more of a side dish than a main course. It's a great direction for Fitzgerald, resting favorably between The The and R.E.M. Landed is certainly less scattered than the studio party he threw as Fruit, and it's a fine way to introduce himself to new ears. The usual expectation of a solo debut is that it will be more subdued than the artist's prior involvements. That rationale holds water here, but in this case it doesn't have to be any less exciting. Welcome back, Patrick. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide