The oddly-named Caz Mechanic is Caroline Banks, the drummer for Seafood, who I have heard of, but know nothing about, which is true of Caz Mechanic and this album, really. It’s actually liberating sometimes when you don’t get a press release or much information about an artist, there isn’t any physical handle you can use to describe the album, other than the music itself. The music itself is folk styled singer-songwriter stuff, that thankfully makes use of a full band rather than sticking to ‘an acoustic guitar and the truth’ type aesthetic. A kazoo, piano, harmonica, drums, bass, acoustic and electric guitars and some subtle processed electronic sounds and washes help to expand and create various different lights and shades throughout.The Secret Life Of The Captain Of The Ship In A Bottle On The Mantle Piece, (phew), has a mixture of low and high fidelity production, giving the sense of the album being a woven patchwork. So, I imagine, sometimes Banks would record vocals to a four track on her own, and then at other times she would be with her friends and contributors to the album, and they would record some instruments in a studio whilst getting drunk. There’s just a cozy feeling to the album, as if one of your neighbours made it. The thing is, though, this isn’t a happy album, in general. Banks delves into the often painful realm of inter-personal relationships, crafting pictures of situations. 'Little Star' is quite catchy and poppy, but the lyrical imagery cuts back any notion of happiness, “Or are you just another little star/On a cold dark night” and “What’s it all become?/I don’t know but know I should”, is about feeling lost and alone. 'Go Home' marries a late night jazz feel, using trumpets and reverbed vocals, with lyrics like “Go home it’s late and there’s nothing going on”, as if turning away a potentially dangerous chance of an affair. 'Fridge Full Of Beer' actually remains free and easy with a bouncy drum sound and some soaring harmonica until the line that unlocks the song, “Ted you don’t understand/We’re not angry, we’re sad”.The real gut punch of the album comes from 'Can’t Help Yourself', the longest song on the album, at 6 mins and 9secs. Startlingly intimate double tracked vocals come through both speakers, some minimal acoustic guitar, an arresting woozy sigh that has obviously been messed with electronically and a fuzzy ambient keyboard playing just two chords, make up most of the song. Either Banks herself or the character she has created, sings of the uncertainty, “God knows if I’m right/To bring you along/On what could be a very long night/That could go very wrong”, the pessimism, “Statistically it’s over/Before it’s begun”, and the inscrutability, “You can’t help yourself/From loving some-/You can’t help yourself from loving-”, of love. I suppose that, although this isn’t a happy set of songs, there is still room for loose and relaxed tracks. 'Elephant’s Song' sounds like a lazy day by a river, with the kazoo a wandering bee, and 'Crocodile' even has a little humour, “The hippos know the score/They are wise/If they see a log with eyes”.Banks’ voice lends the album it’s identity, but also ends up limiting where the music can go. Her voice is quite plain, yet she uses it well, trying some modest little things to keep up the variety of the album and perfecting a choked soft style, as on 'Can’t Help Yourself'. But the album does suffer a little from it’s enforced scaled back scope, perhaps spending too much time in the same vein. A humbleness pervades this album, making the listener feel privileged to be let in on this often bleak album. 77%Links Caz Mechanic [myspace]