HELLO UNIVERSE: I AM NOW A NEWTON FAULKNER FAN

Newton Faulkner, a 24-year old singer/songwriter from Surrey pleases the tiny bones in one's ears with his melodic tunes that occupy a unique space in the musical spectrum. So varied in output and influence, his position within the spectrum could best be described as a location within a 3-dimensional diagram; the x-axis of rock, y of folk and z of awesomeness.

With voice relaxed, lyrics genuine and mature for one still young, the album is broken up between 'interludes' of acoustic guitar-picking showing off the artist's varied playing style. Faulkner sounds and feels like a rock love poet of old in the early tracks I took it out on you and if this is it, tunes that are destined for wide radio play and a happy place within the popular consciousness. The album itself breathes like a fresh air over the dry corpse of a congested music industry stale with manufactured bands, over-produced radio-friendly pap and X Factor renditions.

A simple yet beautiful album, with guitar and soft melodies, and tracks that are short and varied enough so that little of it sounds the same except for Faulkner's sweet voice. Obvious inspirations are Neil Young and Pearl Jam, while less obvious would be Primus, Prince, George Clinton, Green Day... actually after listening to the entire album these inspirations make complete sense.

One example of the album's simplistic beauty is from been thinking about it: "Been thinking bout it... if i like you, and you like me... what the hell are we wasting our time". Honestly, the cleverest love song of the year. Snow Patrol must be kicking themselves they didn't come up with that.

lipstick jungle has a distinct reggae-vibe-meets-harmonica-and-blues-guitar. Somehow every song is a rare jewel, if only you could sum up the words to tell your love how you feel the way Faulkner does in first time. "Let it feel like the first time, we're down to our last chance now, forget that you know me inside out..."

Fuck yeah...

Uplifting or lonely pleasure, Rebuilt By Humans in its entirity feels like every song you've loved blended into a fine paste and served up as musical haute couture. If you miss this album you'll regret it, and find yourself wishing in years to come how much richer your life might have been, and you'll be able to tell your kids, 'I heard that guy before everybody else... I was there man.'

Some may have been lucky enough to see him at last month's Cois Fharriage and 2008's Oxegen Festival, but those less fortunate can pick up his first album, Handbuilt by Robots and this wonderful follow-up from the 28th of September onwards.

- Kevin L'Estrange

CHECK OUT THE FIRST SINGLE FROM REBUILT BY HUMANS: