Gravenhurst - Flashlight Seasons/Black Holes in the Sand/Offerings

  by Adrian Huggins

published: 22 / 2 / 2015

Label: Warp Records
Format: CD Box

intro

Excellent collection of early recordings, released to mark his tenth anniversary as Warp Records artist, from Gravenhurst, the pseudonym of Bristol-based singer-songwriter Nick Talbot who died in December

Gravenhurst was the guise of the late UK-based artist Nick Talbot, who died in December at the age of 37. This offering is a two disc compilation. It features Gravenhurst’s 2003 second full-length album ‘Flashlight Seasons’;, a 2004 mini-album ‘Black Holes in the Sand’ and ‘Offerings’, an album of ‘lost songs’ from 2000 to 2004, all released to mark the tenth anniversary of Gravenhurst as a Warp Records artist. There is a beautiful stripped-back honesty to Gravenhurst’s songs that make it an irresistible listen throughout. The bulk of the songs on offer over the two discs are primarily acoustic numbers, with a minimalist backing of bass and drums subtly used to perfection. Odd moments of electronica are woven in to give some of the songs an extra dimension and lean towards the experimental - the exact thing that one would expect from a Warp artist and which set things apart from the mundane. The pace is mellow and relaxed throughout, but there is a gentle intensity that comes through with Talbot’s vocals which veer between heart-on-sleeve lyrics and more cryptic tales that require that bit extra investment. I found myself drawn more towards the second disc, featuring those so called ‘lost songs’ from the earlier years of the century. ‘The Entertainment’ is just the most gorgeous song, and many artists would strive across their whole career to compose something as wonderful as this. ‘Abilene/Still Water Outro’ is another highlight that has a hint of Boards Of Canada about it. Gravenhurst swoops on this between complex tales and moments of simplistic honesty in an effortless manner. It is a terrible tragedy that we lost Talbot at such a young age. Simply put, this artist and this collection of albums will make your life better.

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