Fred Erskine, the Freddie who’s fronting The People, has been floating around Music Town for a spell  in notable projects like June of 44, Hoover, Crownhate Ruin, and Just a Fire. With Gypsy City, Fred and his people have picked themselves a nice little ranch house out in the ‘burbs and settled into a pleasant routine of happy basement, indie-R&B tunes.

Erskine’s songwriting moves into a stronger, more soulful arena, while keeping a gently rough skin on it with his solid, untaught vocals. And the horns running through the whole album are all good. The tracks “Pump Pump” and “Everything Is Broken” really show what these People are all about, blendering horns and throat-y vocals with some un-wanky, indie guitar noodling.

A disc made by a good-spirited Midwestern kid who grew up on the Style Council discography. Good stuff.

(Sick Room Records, PO Box 47830, Chicago, IL 60647)