Keaton Henson: Dear (CD on Oak Ten Records)

Band: Keaton Henson
Label: Oak Ten Records
Title: Dear

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Band:Keaton Henson
Title:Dear
Reviewed By:Lisa Torem
Date Published:17/03/2012

Label:Oak Ten Records
Format:CD
Release Year:2012
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Keaton Henson is a reclusive singer-songwriter and visual artist who might have remained largely unsung if it hadn’t been for Zane Lowe. Lowe was blissed out by Henson’s heartbreaking song, ‘You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are’ and gave it VIP status on his radio show.

Henson’s debut, 'Dear', goes straight to the heart. His musical skill sets may be dubious – he uses a cupboard for percussive effect, thunderstorms for overall, dramatic effects and, because his home is set under Heathrow’s flight pattern, he often found himself hurriedly recording takes between the sounds of overhead planes.

That said, his primitive guitar accompaniment is riveting and perfectly appropriate for his fluid songwriting. His voice, which is distinct, though not virtuosic, is ladled with sincerity.

The journey begins with a cacophony of ambient sounds entitled ‘Prologue’. Then the song that Lowe so enjoyed begins. With a voice that barely rises above a whisper, he evokes enormous passion. Henson sings to the guy who stole his girl.

‘Charon’ is set to a more feverish, fingerstyle background. Henson’s frustrations continue. “I can not grow in this small space,” he discovers. And though he tries, he comes up against his own failings, becoming increasingly aware that “I ain’t no Hercules.” The song was said to have been inspired by the ferryman of the River Styx. And, yet, it comes off as so intensely personal that you feel as if you have eavesdropped against his bedroom window.

Henson’s songwriting talents continue. The ballad ‘Oliver Dalston Browning’ and ‘Sarah Minor’ both cut to the heart, as well, though the latter, due to its palpable detail, almost breathes Dylan.

“Though your skin’s sheet white/Your arms carry scars…”

‘Small Hands’ is enchanting for similar reasons. “Miss your teeth when they chatter/When you smoked out in my garden…” He tops the story off with, “I hope for your life/You forget about mine…”

Henson’s fatalistic streak is ever present in ‘Flesh and Bone’, and with lyrics such as “I am alone, unwell/This love, this is Hell…” and “I see war on the screen/It is cruel/It is unclean/But I still worry more about you…”

There are no easy, happy endings it seems in Henson’s mind, but he never said there were. But there is a solid presence in his observations, especially in this raw telling.

‘Nests’ has a bright chord progression, which belies the sheer sadness it imbues. “Oh, mamma, she broke my head/Been four years and it does not end…,” he sings. In this last song, the structure is particularly enjoyable.

‘Not That You’d Ever Notice’ is adorned by a sweet smattering of bells and an enthusiastic crowd of voices, which actually comes across more like random neighbours dropping in after hearing familiar chords on a guitar.

‘Party Song’, at its core, has a marvellously, melancholic bass line that chases Henson’s voice around like a jealous ex-wife that clearly wants him back. And, though Keaton Henson didn’t set out to be in the public eye, he may have no choice after this haunting debut.

Track Listing:

01) Prologue
02) You Don't Know How Lucky You Are
03) Charon
04) Oliver Dalston Browning
05) Sarah Minor
06) Small Hands
07) Flesh And Bone
08) Nests
09) Not That You'd Even Notice
10) Party Song

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Related Links

http://keatonhenson.com/
http://keatonhensonwords.tumblr.com/
https://plus.google.com/109808043540377509437
https://www.facebook.com/keatonhensonfans
https://www.youtube.com/user/keatonhenson

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Primitively recorded, but absolutely riveting debut album from reclusive London-based singer-songwriter, Keaton Henson

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Dear - CD
Primitively recorded, but absolutely riveting debut album from reclusive London-based singer-songwriter, Keaton Henson

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