Epigram 15 November 2004 (Issue 164)
http://www.epigram.org.uk/view.php?id=201
Having gained something of a cult following in his hometown, Fretwell finally releases his debut album. The sound is somewhere between Damien Rice and Coldplay, albeit their more sedate, less commercial numbers. The piano and guitar parts remain simple, leaving his rich, melodious voice to do the hard work, giving an overall mellow and somewhat sorrowful feel to the album.
There are some beautiful moments when his voice seems almost perfect, coming together expertly with the music on tracks such as 'Emilie' and the Dylan-esque 'Brother'. However, one or two of the songs seem less suited to his dulcet harmonies, and the lyrics sometimes disappoint with some fairly predictable rhyming. The order could also be improved; it seems to open with the weaker songs, leaving the best towards the end, by
which time the listener could be forgiven for having already lost interest.
However, this is a very promising debut despite a few inadequacies. Be ready to listen to it a few times before passing judgement and you may just grow to love it. With some improved lyrics, Fretwell's next album could be one to buy. Watch this space.
Rating: ***
If you liked this, try Damien Rice - O
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment