Paolo Nutini is an odd one. Reluctant pop star? Awkward rock star? A star non-the-less! Don't even try to put this Scot in a box, you'll never find the correct one. He might come across a veteran of the game but Caustic Love is the coming-of-age record for the twenty-seven year old who proves willingly to experiment.
Right from the off, when the synths kick in you get the impression that he means business, attacking new territories like a man on a mission. Opener, Scream is an eye opener as it seamlessly produces funk rhythm and a soulful vibe, created by layers of instruments and textured backing vocals. Things move on quickly as he goes on to document the demise of a ten year relationship, this is most prominent on Numpty. Emotions are still raw and vivid for the listener as the broken artist voice yelps with pain.
There's some bizarre interludes going on (Bus Talk, Superfly) whilst slick chick Janelle Monae makes a surprising addition on the equally smooth Fashion, her quick fire verse shouldn't work but it does. The singer-songwriter peaks when he lays his cards on the table, the perfect examples come on Better Man where he speaks of failure and the intense Iron Sky, neither spring out with immediacy but they are carefully composed, proving this is a 'real artist'.
Caustic Love is no throwaway record, it is one to cherish, understand and learn but it is worth every minute you give it and sets sights on a bright future for Nutini, hopefully a happier one as he was clearly down in the dumps when piecing this one together.