A Comfortable Man

A Comfortable Man is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Cathal Smyth. It was produced by Charlie Andrew and Kirsty Mangan. The album was first made available in 2014 as a vinyl LP, limited to 1,000 copies and sold during Smyth's three night performance at Wilton's Music Hall.^[7][1] It was given a full release by the Phoenix Rising Recording Co. in 2015, reaching No. 68 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 10 on the Independent Albums Chart.^[8][9]

A Comfortable Man
Studio album by Cathal Smyth
Released	7 October 2014 (limited LP release)[1] 11 May 2015[2]
Studio	Iguana Studio, London Sarm Studios, London The Premises Studios, London Cathal's studio
Genre	Pop[3]
Length	46:10
Label	Phoenix Rising Recording Co.
Producer	Charlie Andrew Kirsty Mangan Paul Powell Felix Quine
Singles from A Comfortable Man
"You're Not Alone" Released: 9 March 2015[4] "Do You Believe in Love?" Released: 11 May 2015[5] "Are the Children Happy?" Released: 5 May 2015[6]

Many tracks on A Comfortable Man were written following the breakdown of Smyth's 28-year marriage in 2005. After completing the recording of the album, Smyth departed Madness to embark on his solo career.^[10] Speaking of the album to the BBC in 2015, Smyth said: "The cycle of songs started with "Are the Children Happy?" and "Love Song No. 7". It was a very emotional time, it was a very cathartic act writing those songs. I decided I wanted to sit on them for some time to let the dust settle. When you're in Madness and you're writing, it keeps you occupied. It's [was] a very personal project on the sidelines. And I always think timing is essential and when it feels right."^[11]

A music video for "You're Not Alone" was released in September 2014.^[12] The song was released as a download single in March 2015, followed by "Do You Believe in Love?" and "Are the Children Happy?".^[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
The Irish Times	[3]
Mojo	[13]
The Times	positive[14]
Uncut	[15]

Upon release, Tony Clayton-Lea of The Irish Times stated: "A Comfortable Man is a cathartic exercise. Smyth has taken the opportunity to lay bare his thoughts about personal matters across a sequence of gently wrought, beautifully orchestrated balladic pop songs with rather morose titles."^[3] The Times picked A Comfortable Man as their album of the week and commented: "Smyth's simple, honest lyrics and straightforward delivery mean that songs such as "Are the Children Happy?" make a real emotional connection with the listener, while his gift for a pop melody allows for light relief on the upbeat numbers."^[14]

Mojo wrote: "...the musical document of his journey is appropriately desolate but altogether rather moving. Essentially it's Smyth playing Victorian parlour piano accompanied by mournful strings and celestial backing vocals."^[13] Uncut commented: "The LP springs to life when Smyth ignores the ponderous ballads and hits the pop jugular. "Do You Believe in Love?" and "She's Got the Light" are joyous naif: "Love Song No. 7" tugs effectively at the heart strings, while "Are the Children Happy?" is the most gut wrenchingly poignant divorce song you'll ever hear."^[15][16]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"You're Not Alone"	4:44
2.	"Shabat She Comes"	3:55
3.	"A Comfortable Man"	3:24
4.	"Goodbye Planet Earth"	4:49
5.	"Do You Believe in Love?"	3:41
6.	"Love Song No. 7"	4:03
7.	"She's Got the Light"	3:27
8.	"A Requiem for Common Sense"	5:25
9.	"Are the Children Happy?"	3:10
10.	"Love Song No. 9"	3:47
11.	"All My Lovin'"	3:07
12.	"The Wren's Burial"	2:31

All tracks are written by Cathal Smyth.

Charts

Chart (2015)	Peak position
UK Independent Albums Breakers Chart[17]	1
UK Independent Albums Chart[9]	10
UK Albums Chart[8]	68

Personnel

Adapted from the album liners notes.^[18]

Musicians

• Cathal Smyth – vocals, backing vocals, piano (1, 8, 9, 12), whistling (4)
• Charlie Andrew – drums (2, 4, 5, 7), percussion (2-5, 7, 10, 11), bass (2), synthesizer (4), backing vocals (4, 6), arrangements
• Kirsty Mangan – violin (1-6, 8, 10-12), piano (3, 4, 6, 7, 10), backing vocals (2, 4, 5, 7, 8), viola (3, 6, 12), dilruba (3), Hammond organ (7), Rhodes (10), arrangements
• Tim Adam-Smith – guitar (2-5, 7, 10, 11), piano (5)
• Adrian Acolatse – double bass (2, 5-8, 10, 11)
• Paul Powell – bass (8, 12)
• Sarah Bateson – ukulele (2, 4, 6, 7, 11), backing vocals (2)
• Robert Cherry – accordion (5, 7, 11)
• Rachael Lander – cello (3, 6, 12)
• Jo Archard – violin (1)
• Benedict Taylor – viola (1)
• Rhian Porter – cello (1)
• Madeleine Kate Hylland – additional vocals (1, 8)
• The Noctis Chamber Choir – choir (1, 3, 6, 8, 11)
• Jordan Florence Hess – children backing vocals (8)
• Sophie Rose Davidson – children backing vocals (8)
• Lily Charlotte Davidson – children backing vocals (8)
• Joe Duddell – choir (1, 3, 6, 8, 11) and strings arrangements (1)

Production

• Charlie Andrew – production (2-7, 9-11), additional production (8, 12), recording (2-7, 10, 11), strings recording (8)
• Kirsty Mangan – production (2-7, 9-11), additional production (8, 12)
• Paul Powell – production (1), main vocal production and recording (from original demo) (11)
• Felix Quine – production (8, 12), recording (8, 12)
• Alan Winstanley – recording (1), mixing (1-12)
• Cameron Gower Poole – engineer (1)
• Tom Campbell – assistant engineer (1)
• Jason Howes – recording (9)
• Simon Halfon – sleeve design
• Raquel Martinez Royo – cover and colour photography
• Simon Pantling – black and white photography