Reviewed by non compos mentis....

Iain's debut album is an ideal introduction to his talents as singer, songwriter and guitarist. Produced by Steve Butler, Charlie Irvine and Dot Reid of Sticky Music stablemates Lies Damned Lies, Iain's guitar and vocals are always to the fore and accompanying instruments are sensitively played.

The opener Wishing is a simple and catchy love song which was released as Iain's first (and only) single, and described by Britain's Q magazine as a "May You Never for the 90's bedsit generation". The comparison to John Martyn's ballad is apt, as May You Never was a regular performance item of Iain's at the time, and appears as a bonus track on the CD single. Although by no means the strongest song on the album, Wishing was hugely popular with fans and has appeared on various radio stations since its release. It's followed by Drink Your Fill, which far better shows Iain's ability to carry evocative poetry on deft acoustic guitar backgrounds.
Expectations cranks up the tempo a little, and allows more prominence to the backing musicians, but it's the thoughtful defiant lyric that really gives the song its power. The title track Playing Dead is a beautiful ballad featuring Deacon Blue's Ewan Vernal on bass alongside the picked guitar lead, with hauntingly frail lyrics like "My mind, oh yes my mind used to belong to a child, and still does sometimes...".
The next three songs, One Of These Days, Love Is The Last Thing, and Rain are all more upbeat, the first being one of Iain's many songs which leave an ambiguity over the inspiration behind the imagery, hinting at both romantic and spiritual affections. One Of These Days is an unmistakably jaunty ballad, and Rain is another slice of intelligent pop, although with more lyrical depth than Wishing.
Tumbling Down is another gentle folk ballad conveying a sense of loss without self-indulgence, and the soaring melody of Soul Cries over a more electric arrangement conveys a gloriously spiritual lyric. Next up comes the B-side of the Wishing single, Something From Nothing, a song speaking of faith and doubt in a deceptively memorable melody.
Finally, and perhaps leaving the best until last, Papa Burns is a haunting ballad telling of a chance meeting with an old schoolfriend, just Iain's guitar and voice rounding off the album to perfection.

This is an immensely satisfying album which can be enjoyed for years and years. If it has a flaw, it may be in the essential "politeness" of the arrangements which might cause one to miss the strength of the lyrics, but that would be a rather churlish criticism. There are some great songs here, and it's a worthy addition to any collection.