Mankato – Safe As Houses

Darren “Mankato” Berry’s ambitious and entertaining songs exhibit a warmth and personality reminiscent of British singer-songwriters from the ’70s (Hunky Dory-era Bowie, solo John Lennon, Jeff Lynne’s ELO output). A confessional, introspective album, its guitar-driven orchestral epics (“Pictures Of The Other Side”) are nicely balanced out with throwaway pop (“Fu Manchu”) and blue-eyed soul (“High Emotion”). Comparisons with Damon Gough will be inevitable, but Mankato’s tunes have a decidedly lighter, less shambolic feel to them.