Nikola Sarcevic
Roll Roll And Flee
Burning Heart/Shock

Despite the fact that Nikola Sarcevic's solo work is slow, acoustic folk as opposed to the upbeat punk rock of his day job as frontman of Millencolin (a band of which I'm a huge fan), there's still something cosily familiar about his second album, 'Roll Roll And Flee'. I think it's just the vocal melodies; speed it up, strip away the steel-string and slap on some distortion and Tybble Skyline could almost be a Millencolin song. And maybe that's why, despite it being of a genre I normally steer clear of, I've warmed up quite nicely to 'Roll Roll And Flee.'

There's certainly nothing mind-blowing about this record. It's just pleasant - but its pleasantness is quietly endearing. Brushed drums, the occasional mandolin, accordion and harmonica add a warm texture to the simple, introspective love songs that dominate the album. Lyrically, Sarcevic is no genius - his constant insistence on rhyming couplets is a little overly simplistic - but he delivers the songs with an honesty and lack of contrivance that lends them a quiet dignity. The dynamics are well balanced too, with songs bouncing from the stomping The Law Of John T. to the reserved and startlingly beautiful title track.

The album is short, sharp and sweet and there are enough little moments of gold throughout to make it worthwhile; single Soul For Sale has a respectable chorus hook, while the brass crescendo of Let Me In is surprising and very cool. For the most part, though, 'Roll Roll And Flee' is happy to remain average; on Married, Sarcevic tells us to "Shift track if you get bored," and the temptation is certainly there - but something always stays the hand. Whatever that thing is, it keeps Nikola Sarcevic's solo work from descending into a throwaway side project, instead settling it as a charming little slice of folk.

Matt Vesely