You don't much invention from the accountants that run big record companies theses days. There's little in the corporate heart that allows such flexibility. However, those tiny little record companies such as Wee Pop will take the chance and release something a bit unusual like a 14 minute headphone opera.
The brainchild of Brad San Martin of One Happy Island and featuring a cornucopia of twee pop talent, it is something of a prodigal son returns home story placed somewhere on the timeline between a John Hughes' teen movie and a Blake Edward's mid life crisis movie. Quite a sentimental tale with a reasonably happy ending, it does possess an offbeat charm and it does grow on you. Admittedly, none of the songs really stand out but the whole thing flows together well.
Lovingly packaged as always with a wee booklet with all the lyrics, it is available from the Wee Pop Records website.