It is hard to think of a time when Paul McLaney wasn’t part of the music landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand.

From Gramsci, to his collaborative and soundtrack work, to his solo material, he has been a presence in the scene even if not necessarily a household name. ‘As The North Attracts The Needle’ is McLaney’s 2023 album, and returns him to writing and performing with only his acoustic guitar, making a troubadour’s album of simple grace.

The sparse arrangements of these songs reflect the elegance in his writing and the thoughtful lyrics that look to the world around us. The album focuses on McLaney’s voice and guitar playing, with only an unadorned keyboard counterpoint fleshing out the final song, Go Well, a meditation on reaching your destination.

Although consistent with only voice-and-guitar, the songs dart around in terms of delivery – finger-picked guitar beneath a lilting melody on one song (for example, Harmony or I) gives way to rhythmic strumming with a jazz inflected melody on another (eg. As the North Attracts the Needle).

Any comparison to the classic ’70s guitar-and-vocal troubadours will result from the acoustic delivery and McLaney’s fine voice, but it is clearest on the Bert Jansch-esque The Rest Will Come in Time, which features some fantastic playing from McLaney. Recorded with warmth and intimacy by Scott Seabright, ‘As the North Attracts the Needle’ makes an impact in the 10 songs. They may be short, but the effect is long.