ROB NICHOLS takes the organic path to musical self-expression. These two songs, from an album-to-be, present complementary approaches from a very distinctive singer/songwriter. There is an obvious affinity between NICHOLS' work and the story songs of the earliest folk/rock era. Nevertheless, the actual sounds on this release are very contemporary.
"Words and Numbers" has the timber-framed resonance of respectful Americana. From the guitar solo to the movie-voice samples the frontier openness is lovingly added to a rather English song of reluctant self-discovery and tentative hope. The recurrent line "we all dream a little, sometimes" is a perfect summary and indicative of ROB NICHOLS' determinedly modest approach.. There will be a lot of inward recognition here, nudged emotionally on by NICHOLS' hesitantly tuneful singing, and strummed into bitter-sweet reverie by an evocative accompaniment.
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The instrumentation on "For Someone" is intriguing. There are no drums and no voice samples on this one. It has a very spare arrangement that declares a loneliness even deeper than the title suggests. The background tones and textures shimmer ambiguously between strings and reeds. IT could be harmonica and violin. It could be a synth. Originally written as a simple elegy for Elliott Smith (whose influence is respectfully acknowledged), the lyrics were recast for more directly personal circumstances. It remains an affecting, universal song.
www.sandsong.co.uk
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