Whimsical Creature is the latest outlet for the songs of Michael Whiteman, whose prolific writing brought us I Am The Manic Whale, as well as Spock’s Beard keyboard maestro Ryo Okumoto’s most recent solo album. Here he teams up with the talented Ella Lloyd, for a more acoustic approach in his very recognisable writing style. Wistful Thinking is their first album; Ella plays soaring flute, shimmering autoharp, and glockenspiel as well as singing, and Michael does everything else, but in an acoustic setting.
As is usually the case, Michael Whiteman tends to write on diverse and unexpected subjects, unearthing stories which are often obscure, but always entertaining. The soundscape is based around acoustic guitar, flute and piano in the main with a folky vibe, but often incorporating tricky little moments of prog complexity, just to keep things fresh and exciting. In Ella Lloyd, Michael has found a musical partner who complements his style, and adds her own personality, often carrying the melodic sweep of the songs with scintillating flute playing which epitomises the character of Whimsical Creature.
The songs cover a range of thought provoking subjects, from his amusing take on AI (Better Than This?), and the sublime story of the lifecycle of the Monarch butterfly (A Journey of Five Lifetimes), to a song about the channel tunnel (The Undersea Tunnel) and an account of a great twentieth century hoax (A Way With The Fairies). Each has been researched and written with attention to detail, but in a way which entertains and informs at the same time.
Wistful Thinking kicks off with the sprightly and upbeat Begin Again Again, and is basically about not giving up, and being inspired by those who, when faced with a set back, dust themselves down and try again.
And you’re wearing mismatched socks, and you don’t know where to go next,
But it doesn’t matter how many times life has brought you down,
You’ve run aground and still you make the choice..
To begin again again.”
It’s a simple song with a simple message, but imbued with humour and optimism, a hallmark of Whiteman’s writing.
Stargazer is a longer piece, perfectly capturing the atmosphere of looking at the night sky in a place of dark tranquility, and the awe one feels as one contemplates our place in the universe. The shimmering autoharp in the mid section complementing some fine acoustic guitar lines is graceful, and the later flute solo simply sublime. A definite highlight.
The Process Is More Important Than The Outcome is a thoughtful instrumental piano and flute interlude which acts as a super prelude to the fabulous A Journey of Five Lifetimes. Inspired by the story of the Monarch butterfly which migrates from Mexico across the US to South Eastern Canada, and back again across five generations, Whimsical Creature have created a wonderfully inspiring musical accompaniment. The dancing flute mimics the flight of the butterfly, the melody is uplifting, the piano and guitar parts illustrating the epic nature of the journey, and sense of wonder at how it is achieved. Another highlight.
Better Than This? is a hilarious take on AI, but with a serious message. It’s a quirky chugging song which reminds me of XTC, and is a finely crafted warning on the dangers of relying on AI as we seem to be doing more and more.
Can’t slow its propagation
Will it write a song that is better than this?
No need to write or sing or draw
The algorithm does it for you
Can it write a song that is better than this?”
Whiteman goes on to warn of the degradation of AI results as it pops up everywhere on social media, a problem which it seems nobody is addressing. However, Michael’s song is a little gem, delivered with humour and panache, and it’s hard to imagine AI writing anything as quirky or just plain good as this, let alone better!
Ella sings lead vocals on A Way With The Fairies, which recounts a great twentieth century hoax – the Cottingley Fairies photographs which duped many, including Conan Doyle who published them. It’s a great story which I’ll admit I wasn’t familiar with, but it makes for a unique original song. Whiteman indulges his love of trains with his Undersea Tunnel, a love letter to the channel tunnel, and the album closes with the elegiac Stained Glass, a nod to the artists and craftsmen who created stained glass windows. It’s a suitably delicate but powerful closing statement to Whimsical Creature’s first chapter.
Wistful Thinking is a lovely album, and Whimsical Creature shows another side of Michael Whiteman; a sort of acoustic Manic Whale given a folky edge, but with prog credentials still in order. Michael and Ella give us great musicianship and thought provoking songs with more than a dash of humour. That’s entertainment, and I thoroughly recommend this first instalment of Whimsical Creature.
TRACK LISTING
01. Begin Again Again (4:39)
02. The Stargazer (7:21)
03. The Process Is More Important Than The Outcome (3:47)
04. A Journey Of Five Lifetimes (6:51)
05. Better Than This (5:11)
06. A Way With The Fairies (6:33)
07. The Undersea Tunnel (4:28)
08. Stained Glass (6:49)
Total Time – 45:39
MUSICIANS
Michael Whiteman – Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Drums, Bass, Percussion
Ella Lloyd – Flute, Vocals, Autoharp, Glockenspiel, Percussion
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Independent
Country of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 15th August 2025
