Promenade Blue

A 2020 cover of the Seeds garage rock classic Pushin Too Hard suggested that Nick Waterhouse had a surplus of the nearly savage energy that powered his self-titled 2019 album. Although he lets loose on the dramatic narrative Fugitive Lover and whoops it up a little in a couple other numbers, he otherwise keeps his cool on Promenade Blue, a more restrained mix of vintage-sounding soul, pop, jazz, and doo wop. Like Nick Waterhouse, this was produced by Waterhouse and Paul Butler (the Bees, Michael Kiwanuka), evidently kindred spirits who could go in any number of directions together. Perhaps as a consequence, the set is far-ranging and neatly tied together. The biggest differentiator here is in the strings, arranged by J.B. Flatt, that augment the reflective and romantic highlights Place Names and Very Blue, along with the strutting finale To Tell. The slow-grinding Medicine and wafting instrumental Promene Bleu are just as memorable as the ones that raise a ruckus, from Vincentine to B. Santa Ana, 1986 -- the latter a revelrous anti-anthem that has some fun with geographic identity. Additionally decked out with backing vocalists, brass and woodwinds, and even timpani, this is entertaining from front to back, if not quite as much of a thrill as Waterhouses previous studio LP. ~ Andy Kellman

西海岸のレトロな男による2年ぶりの5作目。前作に続きポール・バトラーを制作に迎え、ソウルからガレージ・ロック、ドゥワップやモーダルなジャズまで、50～60年代に焦点を絞ったヴィンテージ感ある音楽を紡いでいく。洒脱なストリングスや厚みあるバンド・サウンドなど制作のクォリティーはさらに洗練されたが、少しの気怠さと共に温かみとノスタルジアを醸すその持ち味は、デビュー時から10年経った現在も変わらない。
bounce (C)池谷瑛子