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MUSIC: Paul Heaton, Manchester Academy, Friday 4 Jul

David Sue
2/ 7/2008

SONGWRITER Paul Heaton is currently undergoing a major phase of ‘downsizing’.

As the frontman of The Beautiful South, Heaton was more accustomed to doing things on a supersize scale – the band were considered a national pop institution, they sold more than 15 million albums and regularly packed out massive arenas across the country.

But after The Beautiful South split up last year, Heaton is playing the sort of small venues for which the term ‘sardine tin-sized’ might be considered generous.

The role of the underdog is clearly one that Heaton relishes.

Known for his ‘glass half-empty’ approach to songwriting, he’s one of British pop’s great dry wit observers.

The 47-year-old songwriter has often explained how his songs are "like snowballs… but with a stone concealed inside," and Beautiful South classics like Perfect 10 and Don’t Marry Her testify to his astute eye for dour lyrical detail.

But Heaton, to his credit, refuses to trade on past glories. Having relocated to Manchester from Hull, and now collaborating with ex-members of The Fall, he is effectively starting with a clean musical slate.

Thankfully, there should be plenty for Beautiful South fans to enjoy here – musically, his new solo songs might be rockier, more country-influenced, but Heaton’s obsessions are typically gloomy, with lyrics concerning dysfunctional love lives and the British pessimist spirit.

He may have downsized from big arenas to the tiny gig venue, but that’s surely better for the creative juices.