Rating:
Genre:
Electronica
Release Date: 09/05/2006
An album title like
Urban Angel might lead you to expect a smooth and silky
R&B diva, but what you get on the solo debut by
Daughter Darling alumna
Natalie Walker is actually something more along the lines of a less downtown
Syd Straw, or maybe a less British
Portishead. The production team of
Stur creates arrangements for
Walker that manage to give equal weight to her sweet, clear voice and their backing tracks, tracks that are funky and elegant at the same time. The mood is generally kind of glum, but not always completely pessimistic: the title track is sad and lovely, while
"Rest Easy" picks up the tempo a little bit while keeping the mood quite subdued.
"No One Elsa" combines faintly glitchy beats with a gossamer arrangement of harp, piano, strings and breathy backing vocals to very nice effect, and
"Quicksand" incorporates what almost sound like
Fripp-ertronic-style guitars. Near the end, on the beautiful
"Not the End," Walker's sadness comes with a certain degree of optimism as she gently encourages a downcast friend. Overall, this is a very impressive debut from a major talent. Highly recommended.
~Rick Anderson, All Music Guide
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