If Fridge and Four Tet are the Beatles of post-everything indie-ness, them Adem Ilham is the George Harrison of this underground Fab-Few. The quiet one, the spiritual one. Kieran Hebden, quite rightly, has received the lion's share of the acclaim and attention for the achievements of these brilliant Brits, but Adem has been his sonic-sidekick since the two were preteens. Homesongs serves notice to a couple of things, firstly it certainly demonstrates Ilhams considerable contribution to the music - and it also suggests that if Hebden was the brains behind the beauty, Adem was the heart.

As the title suggests, Homesongs emphasizes the Folk in Folk-tronica, and even though these songs are still all but unclassifiable, it's a good bit more accessible and, well . . . normal than anything he's heretofore been party to. By using a spare and decidedly stripped down approach (finger-style acoustic guitar, banjo, glockenspiel, and an onomatopoeia of percussive effects) like some sort of Wizard or Alchemist he's managed to conjure grandeur.

For an artist whose previous work has been largely comprised of experimental rock instrumentals , the most impressive and surprising instrument that Ilham employs is his larynx. Homesongs proves a wonderful showcase for Adem's strong and distinctive singing voice. A voice that at times reminds of the whispery intimacy of Donovan and in general the versatility of Beck.

What really sets Homesongs apart from his previous discography is the fact that this is a collection of more or less traditionally structured songs. Complete with verses that lead to choruses and choruses that bridge back into verses - with lyrics that are nothing if not right at home in their unique instrumental nests. I suppose just by virtue of the banjo's mention, you may be curious as to whether any of this is similar to Suffjan Stevens? Indeed there are a few tracks where there is an unmistakable resemblance. The poignantly gorgeous "Ringing in My Ear," and "These Are Your Friends," smack of Stevens not only in the overall sound, but also in the lyrical symbolism these songs contain.

This is a record that comes across so naturally, and with such an impressive range that it lends even more validity to his previous work. At no point does this album sound forced or intentionally out-of-character, so much as it sounds like a tour de force expression of a singular talent given it's day in the sun and capturing every ray.