Just from listening to the opening guitar chords, raindrops and sighing vocals on Skippy And The Bellbottoms' first offering, it is apparent that something magical is about to happen. The man behind the fantastic moniker and equally fantastic music is Jeff Maynard; a Tennessee-based musician who has refined a sound midway between the psychedelic Americana of Mercury Rev and the sensitive side of Ben Folds Five. Songs like 'Life Looks Better In The Fall' begin fully formed but then drift away into blissful fragments. Beautiful things happen again and again such as the wondrous harmonies on 'Dry Spell', 'A Bomb And A Bull' (featuring just Maynard, piano and violin accompaniment) and the passion and clarity of 'Better Ways' makes for an excellent finish. Throughout, a sensitive production brings out the childlike fantasy of Maynard's songwriting and lets every note and chord resonate for maximum emotional effect.