Normalcy and insanity are never far apart on Alexander McGregor’s solo record, “Part One: Aguirre Returns”. As Nicholas Falwell writes in the liner notes, “More and more creative folk work at escapism, or labor on existentially”.

One of these is certainly our Alex, as is proven by his self-recorded debut which is just as much a work of escapism, a beautiful 26 minutes of leaving this world in a “light gloss of pop”, as it is the product of a sensitive man’s existentialist labours. At times cacophonous, seemingly chaotic, “Aguirre Returns” plays like a late-night, sleepless heartbeat, a masterpiece of psychedelic folk that touches on delightful little pop elements. It’s rustic, it’s charming, it is very deliberate and clever, it’s a good record and I listen to it all alone at night because it seems to be the right time for it.

Year Released: 2003
Label: Eskimo Labs
Related Link: Ponies in the Surf Official Site
Date Reviewed: 2004-08-12
Author: Andreas