Drowsy - Growing Green

  by Jon Rogers

published: 4 / 6 / 2005

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Finnish Mauri Heikkinen, 22, is the folk singer-songwriter behind Drowsy's debut album. 'Growing Green' is effectively a collection of songs recorded by Heikkinen over the past three years in his bedroom. In fact, he's hardly a profilic songwriter as his last release was back in 2001 with the single 'Careless Me', which is included here. The long gestation period though has been worth the wait as the album is quietly captivating in a timid, unassuming way. It doesn't stand up and loudly proclaim its arrival but shyly sits in a corner strumming away, ultimately grabbing your attention subtlly. 'Yellow Leaves and White Trees' gently ambles along, its soft and unstated melodies drifting by. Like the last recordings of Nick Drake, Heikkinen's voice is at times barely audible as he mumbles the lyrics over simply constructed guitar or piano parts that wouldn't be out of place on a Robert Wyatt album. Heikkinen though isn't afraid to experiment too. '5 Bright Dawn' finds him in confident mood, dabbling in alt-country, feedback and post-rock. 'No Footprints To Trail'' explores similar alt-country areas. 'I Died of Death' is Drowsy's best impersonation of Syd Barrett's solo work Drowsy is at his best though when he's playing simple, shy and retiring folk. Just him and his guitar. 'Growing Green' may be rather rough around the edges but it seems to benefit from not being polished to a gleaming shine. It is though a little gem.

Track Listing:-

1 Some Cursing
2 Harmless
3 Yellow Leaves & White Trees
4 Careless Me
5 5 Bright Dawn
6 I Watch The Sky
7 Growin' Green
8 Cryosleep
9 No Footprints To Trail
10 I Died Of Death
11 Great Scintillates
12 Plim Plom Autumn Song
13 Reclining, The Minds Slowly Sway
14 Home Hits

Label Links:-

http://www.fat-cat.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/FatCatRecords
http://fatcat-records.tumblr.com/
https://www.youtube.com/fatcatrecords
https://twitter.com/FatCatRecords

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