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| Nat Baldwin is a solo artist, a solo acoustic artist, to be precise. “Not another under-talented Blunt-esque chart-topper?” I hear you say. Well, no actually. “Maybe he’s another uber-cool lo-fi folk artist then?” Nope, wrong again. Let me explain… |
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Back when he was young, Nat Baldwin gave up a college basketball scholarship in order to study composition with Anthony Braxton - famous for his free-jazz work. He, Baldwin, soon released a free-jazz album of his own, Solo Contrabass, in 2003 - to critical acclaim from the jazz/noise scene. He quickly realised, though, that he had hit a creative-wall; exploring musical techniques was no longer satisfying for him and he even contemplated giving up music altogether. He stuck with the music, though, and began working as session and touring bassist with several bands from his area. Being on the road with these musicians was pushing his bass playing in directions that had been left unexplored in his jazz days. This eventually led to ‘Lights Out’, his debut mini-album (actually released in the US way back in 2005). ‘Lights Out’ is just Nat Baldwin’s voice (and occasional back-up vocals) and his double bass.
It’s an ambitious and, frankly, innovative album, devoid of anything but Baldwin’s haunting, quavering, falsetto and the layers of double-bass he has created. He utilises the bass to its full potential, creating a percussion sound with short, sharp taps of the bass, even replacing the guitar solo with towering melodies. While all this is going on his voice is still moaning and quavering over the top. It seems as though Nat Baldwin is sharing all of his personal secrets with us, and it’s uncomfortably beautiful.
You’ll have probably heard one of these songs before; ‘Only in Dreams’ was featured on an Orange ‘magic numbers’ advert back in November/December. It’s an awfully vacant song, featuring just the bass tapping away and Baldwin’s already trademark voice, the only problems with it being that it is only 1:45 in length and it’s the last song on the album.
At 23 minutes, ‘Lights Out’ is perhaps too short, or maybe it’s just right? Surely the potential with this once neglected instrument is limited? Either way, Nat Baldwin has created a subdued and melancholic atmosphere that no one else could possibly match; the sound is truly his own. |
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| James Bunce - 8/10 |
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