“Scotland’s dogged, idiosyncratic and often delightful Benbecula label has been quietly going about its business for a decade now, describing an increasingly confident trajectory that’s expanding on the melodic electronica of their early years to embrace occasional doses of folk, jazz and the downright weird.And on his first outing for more than three years, Ochre’s Chris Leary reveals a similarly expanded vision — Like Dust Of The Balance benefits hugely from the multi-instrumental contributions of sometime Plaid collaborator Benet Walsh. ‘Raido’ softens the spasmodic impact of Leary’s habitually skittering rhythmic patterns by folding in warm, rippling Spanish guitars and sighing violins worthy of John Barry. ‘Napolese’ is a spare waltz constructed from staccato ukulele and tumbling harps — if it weren’t for the stark digital clarity of the recording, it could almost have sprung from some long-lost Fellini soundtrack. It’s not all soft-centred romance, though — The Balance reverts to the squelchy synths, quirky beats and sci-fi chimes of Ochre’s early Toytronic outings to complete an album of considerable charm.” (August 2009)