Nathaniel Rateliff
This heartbreaking sonic document chronicles the life of Denver-by-way-of-Missouri songwriter Nathaniel Rateliff. Both fresh and classic, it is imbued with a melancholy and rough candour. No wonder Time Out New York says Rateliff conjures "the ghosts of Nick Drake and Gram Parsons."
Beginning his professional journey just 16 months ago, Nathaniel has already headlined shows across the United States and has supported superstars like the Fray and indie phenomenons like Bon Iver, Tallest Man on Earth and the Low Anthem. In 2010 Nathaniel performed across Europe and the UK with Mumford & Sons and Delta Spirit and has supported and played in Laura Marling’s band during her North American tour.
The first things you notice about ‘In Memory of Loss’ are the voice and the space. That voice belongs to Nathaniel Rateliff, a man who’s earned the twang and hard-knock weariness that shines through on the album. The space comes courtesy of producer Brian Deck (Califone, Iron & Wine, Modest Mouse), who helped transform 8-track bedroom demos into miniature epics of contrast, beauty, and yearning.
Recording ‘In Memory of Loss’ in Chicago, Rateliff and Deck crafted the album’s gorgeous nuances like the ominous organ of ‘Longing and Losing’ and propulsive bass drum on ‘Early Spring Till’.
Whether Rateliff is harkening an "old time revival" on the gospel-infused tune ‘We Never Win’ - which perfectly mixes the sacred and profane – or singing a drunken tale of a barroom brawl on ‘You Should Have Seen The Other Guy’ (a song inspired by Rateliff's bootlegger great-grandfather) he delivers the words with a chilling raw emotion with a low rasp that's part Neil Diamond, part Nick Cave.
On these fourteen tracks which bristle with soulful minimalism, hints of the music he grew up on – Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, the Beatles - shine through. Yet Rateliff is also at home in what may be called, for lack of a better term, the neo-folk revival. His voice is so confident that you can occasionally imagine the music dropping out entirely, leaving a song propelled solely by Rateliff’s a capella strengths.
Rateliff recorded the album with help from longtime collaborators Julie Davis (bass, vocals), James Han (piano) and Joseph Pope III (guitar, vocals).