‘The Logic Of Complex Man’ is the first album from Sky Like Static – a loose affiliation of musicians led by Glasgow keyboardist and vocalist (and TMM contributor - Ed) Andi Watson, aka Sky i. It has been available to download since April last year, having reportedly taken three years to make, and, by anyone’s standards, it’s a confident debut.

The album combines excellent musicianship, engaging vocals and irresistible beats, and draws on a huge range of influences – The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Stone Roses and Radiohead are just a few of the names that might spring to mind as you listen. It all adds up to an electronic alternative/rock sound that’s stylish, interesting and approachable.

Opening track, ‘Logic’, sets the mood, with its quiet electronic beginning, pretty opening motif and uplifting, rhythmic central section, followed by a more reflective conclusion.

Other highlights of this rich musical tapestry include ‘Nervous Enemy’, an irresistible toe-tapper, ‘Acid Test’, another catchy, pop-oriented track which, given the right support, could do well as a single, and ‘Can You See’, typical of the album’s darker and more enigmatic side, with interludes of heavy guitar interspersed with sweet vocal harmonies.

The whole collection has also been attractively assembled, with linked tracks, inter-related musical themes, and even a nostalgic-sounding concluding mantra – typical features of what used to be called a concept album. Could that be a problem, though, and does all the musical cleverness on offer mask a certain lack of substance?

The short answer is yes. Although the album is packed with musical ideas and virtuosity, most of its tracks lack much real memorability, depending for their success on stylish musicianship rather than substantial songwriting. That said, though, it’s still a promising first album that deserves more of an audience than it has so far managed to reach.