A Sunny Day In Glasgow slipped off of the radar over the last couple years. Scribble Mural Comic Journal was one of the better albums of 2007, being an intense and dreamy pop album that was so very irresistible. But time passes, and so much music is released, that some albums just get pushed to the back of the mind. As sad as that sounds, there are only so many hours in a day that can be spent listening to music, and no matter how excellent a group might be, such mental slippage is inevitable. When I got my digital hands on Ashes Grammar, I decided to listen to both Sunny Day in Glasgow albums in a row in an effort to recollect my initial good feelings towards the band. Two hours on a plane later, I’ve been reminded of the wonderful dream pop that the group is capable of producing; Ashes Grammar is a superb sophomore release. The twenty-two songs on this album mix together well, and the relaxed noise that accompanies the melodic guitar work of Ben Daniels is even cleaner than on the band's first release. Although its release has been a bit delayed, I’m pleased to say that Ashes Grammar has been well worth the wait.

The first three songs on the album mesh tightly with one another. The first two total at a mere fifty-four seconds. Each track adds a few layers, until “Slaughter Killing Carnage (The Meaning of Words)” concludes the trio of songs. A catchy cymbal and gorgeous vocals make these first three minutes of music a lovely introduction to Ashes Grammar. “Shy” is another song that showcases the group's dreamy vocals, though the guitar is more relevant and quite soothing here. “Nitetime Rainbows” is one of the best songs on the album, though not for the reasons that make the other songs so good. When one thinks of dance music, A Sunny Day in Glasgow do not usually come to mind; and yet about three minutes into this song, the bass kicks in and toe tapping becomes irresistible. By the time the hand claps start, a bedroom dance-party is all but inevitable.

The lush tone of “Blood White” makes it another beautiful track on an album that is so full of them. Here the music is reminiscent of Animal Collective (which I’ll never think is a bad thing), and the happy and relaxed tone of the music works wonderfully with the singing of the Daniels sisters. If you’re looking for songs with a more organic feel, the next two songs, "Ashes Grammar" and "Ashes Maths", mix a fast drum beat with music that changes tone perfectly. The vocals are spot on as usual, but here the music is absolutely full, and the two tracks mark a clear highpoint on the album. The last truly impressive song on the record is “Starting at A Disadvantage. The group's talented guitar work is particularly evident here. Though not every song is as strong as the ones mentioned, the album would not work as well as a whole had any of them been excluded.

Aside from the tracks I made special mention of, there are plenty of other catchy and pretty songs on the album. Dream-pop bands often struggle to stand out from the masses, so finding one with originality and talent isn’t always easy. Fortunately, A Sunny Day in Glasgow represent some of that rare talent, and they have not disappointed with their second LP. In a relaxed but wonderful atmosphere, it might be one of the best choices of the year for keeping the mood laid back and beautiful. I may have forgotten about them once, but Ashes Grammar has made sure that I won’t be letting A Sunny Day in Glasgow slip my mind any time soon.

Track List:
1. Magna for Annie, Josh and Robin (0:11)
2.Secrets at the Prom (0:43)
3. Slaughter Killing Carnage (The Meaning of Words) (2:14)
4. Failure (3:30)
5. Curse Words (1:44)
6. Close Chorus (6:24)
7. Shy (5:44)
8. Lights (0:22)
9. Passionate Introverts (Dinosaurs) (4:31)
10. West Philly Vocoder (2:06)
11. Evil, With Evil, Against Evil (2:30)
12. The White Witch (3:50)
13. Nitetime Rainbows (5:32)
14. Canalfish (1:30)
15. Loudly (1:49)
16. Blood White (4:19)
17. Ashes Grammar (4:36)
18. Ashes Maths (3:23)
19. Miss My Friends (1:30)
20. Starting at a Disadvantage (4:39)
21. Life's Great (0:41)
22. Headphone Space (4:47)