Nick Raven - Love & Lomography
Nick Raven, an artist coming highly recommended by our American counterpart’s, returns with LP, ‘Love & Lomography’, the follow up to debut EP, ‘Happy You Hippie Me’, released in 2011. The album, released by Powertool Records, and Custom Made Music, is in much the same style as the EP, but there seems to be a darker mood that emerges from this extremely impressive piece of work.
Raven’s music is completely stripped back, full of meticulous and intricate playing ability that, certainly for the first few tracks on the album, portrays an almost eerie and psychedelic image of dusk setting in by a quiet lakeside just before the fall of darkness. The majority of the album is played quietly, but the constant prominence and striking sound that most notes are played can instantly awake the track from any hint of a sombre mood. Typically, an acoustic guitar drives the underbelly, but sometimes the use of a Banjo or Spanish sounding acoustic guitar layers the surface to give the sound a distinct, atmospheric impression. Without being spectacular or ground breaking, the drums do the job of keeping the tracks moving in an evocative, almost tribal like and hypnotic way such is its quiet repetition felt throughout.
‘Butterfly High’ is the opening track and packs a psychedelic punch with some striking Spanish like guitar being at the very core of the songs gist. The listener is almost tricked into thinking the whole album will be full of tracks of a similar psychedelic style, but in reality this song is fairly unique to the albums essence. His guitar talents are evident throughout, and his ability is reflected in some cool licks that are convolutedly played, especially in songs such as, ‘Sitting & Laughing’ and ‘Searching for the Sea’. Raven’s capabilities to write the emotive ballads are a key theme to the album, but they are projected with a twist away from the norm. ‘Love’, ‘Drown’, Head Spin Round’ and ‘Singing Myself to Sleep’ are the significant songs that portrays this notion of beautiful and emotive guitar playing that locks around your heart, throws away the key, and gives you little choice but to let it drench over your waking soul.
With lyrics and soulful vocals that wrap themselves around the mind, the final track is possibly the most lyrically outstanding, and perhaps the most eye catching on the album. ‘Blind Man’ is a track redone and remastered from the first EP. There’s shades of Terry Reid’s, ‘Seed of Memory’ in its approach, but make no mistake about it, this is a fantastically put together track that really has a cool drive and sadness that suits a solitary and moody walk through the sunlit, green, American countryside with nothing but the spectacular scenery and cool wind for company whilst contemplating life and love.
Raven’s style can be best described as folk with an alternative darker twist to an otherwise straightforward story with a predictable ending. On this evidence, he is on his way to achieve great things. Only being a young lad, he reminds me a little of Jake Bugg but with more of an evocative twist, and in my humble opinion, has a greater and broader talent that should carry him far in the future.
About the Author
Nigel Cartner Nigel's immense passion for music, broadcasting and writing is what drives him along through this strange and surreal world!
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