Sun Kil Moon

Mark Kozelek can rip the skeleton out of any song. As Sun Kil Moon, the singer-songwriter has a gift for stripping AC/DC and Modest Mouse tracks down to a few essential chords and a lot of sadness. The guy could make Justin Bieber’s oeuvre sound like Elliott Smith’s, but he’s never more raw than when he’s singing with his own words, as he does here. Backed by nothing but his acoustic guitar, he fingerpicks achingly slow, deceptively complex IV-drip melodies, recalling hard winters and half-empty hotels, and harmonising along with his own voice. This is what being really alone sounds like. But with soul-crushing loneliness this beautiful, who needs friends?

Key Tracks: ”˜Australian Winter,’ ”˜Admiral Fell Promises’