Newton Faulkner has supported James Morrison and Paulo Nutini on tour, but what’s going to make this up-and-coming youngster stand out from the current clutch of male solo singer/songwriters? Well, long gingerish dreadlocks and a real talent on guitar for a start. A graduate from Surrey’s very own ‘school of rock’, Guildford Academy of Contemporary Music, Newton’s acoustic wizardry (featuring fingerstyle, tapping and percussive techniques) was honed under mentor the late Eric Roche (no – I hadn’t heard of this big guitar cheese either). His live shows are relaxed and entertaining. The likeable Faulkner has a sideline in off-the-wall comedy patter, and several songs with quirky lyrics as featured on earlier EPs. The generally chilled and/or funky vibe and hippy appearance combined with the technical excellence bring to mind Aussie ace John Butler. I’ve seen the John Butler Trio and was blown away along with everyone else present, but I’ve never felt inclined to buy a CD or listen to them since. That’s the challenge here.

This is a game of three thirds. Five of the seventeen tracks are slim little musical interludes, which help the album work as a continuous listen, but in truth are insubstantial and insignificant. Of the rest, it’s the first half where Faulkner is at his radio-friendly best, peaking with the mildly euphoric single Dream Catch Me – perhaps because it’s a more well rounded song than most with no over dependency on an emphasised acoustic riff/rhythm. Often soulful, when his delivery reaches full throttle there’s a similarity to Eddie Vedder, though my mind drifted to a slightly disturbing image of Curtis Stigers. I need to do something about that. A cover of Massive Attack’s Teardrop marks the turning point – coming on like an acoustic outing from Led Zeppelin – “There’s a lady …” etc. From there the second half takes a turn into Jack Johnson territory (People Should Smile More). And while I’d rather listen to this than Jack Johnson, the lifeblood starts to seep away as a series of anaemic tunes follow. I can’t dislike it, but that parsity of emotion matches the (lack of) feeling imparted to this listener. It flows, it’s mellow, it’s inoffensive – a passive background accompaniment to something else. But that’s not why I listen to music. The toes may get tapping from time to time, but there’s nothing to truly lift the spirits, and nothing remotely going to trouble the tear ducts. He hasn’t got under my skin, he hasn’t moved me – Ageing Superhero comes closest but it’s over smooth for my taste.

So, Newton Faulkner – good for a night out maybe, but my fingers will be drawn elsewhere in the CD collection for a night in. With some TV and radio features already, he is being touted by some as the next big thing and could sell bucketloads (retaining the deadlocks may be a visible barometer of credibility). A few more years and there may be more memorable experiences to inspire his writing. Until then technique alone is not enough for me.
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Links
Newton Faulkner [official site] [myspace]