Album review: Father John Misty

Father John Misty is an alter-ego of former Fleet Foxes drummer Josh Tillman. Or is it the other way around?

Speaking ahead of his second LP under the FJM moniker, Tillman cryptically explained the record is the work of an imagined character — the Father Misty of the title — but inspired by the life experiences of a certain “J Tillman”.

What he was getting at, it seems, is that while his stage persona has allowed him step outside the confines of indie-rock, the subject matter of I Love You, Honeybear is very close to home.

In the run-up to the album, Tillman became engaged (and has since married) and the pleasures and stresses of a long-term, grown-up relationship — something rock music is traditionally not much concerned about — are among the release’s chief concerns.

Musically, Tillman veers all over the map. He channels hitherto unhinted-at r’n’b influences on the hauntingly zany ‘True Affection’ and, on the title track, deploys hushed piano and plaintive croons.

Granted, he is occasionally a shade too eager to chuck the kitchen sink at the listener so that the stylistic swerves grow disorientating. His use of humour can feel jarring too — one number features canned laughter for no good reason and Tillman isn’t above occasionally emoting in a silly voice.

But, for all the japery and contrivance, the project springs from a genuine place.

This is made clear on the collection’s stand out, ‘The Ideal Husband’, in which Tillman wonders if he truly deserves his significant other and whether he has it in him to make a marriage work.

It’s powerful and painfully personal — the sound of a musician taking off the mask and singing from the heart.

Father John Misty plays Vicar St in Dublin on Oct 24