Keaton Henson - Birthdays
Artist: Keaton Henson
Album: Birthdays
Label: Oak Ten Records
OUT NOW
Rating: 5/5
It doesn’t seem like five minutes since we were heaping praise on Keaton Henson’s debut album Dear and now he is back with his second collection of tracks Birthdays.
Henson caught everyone’s attention with Dear just last year and in less than twelve months he has written a recorded another brilliant collection of tracks - this is an album that is really not to be missed.
Henson is an artist who pours his heart and soul into his music and there is a real power and rawness to everything that he does.
And that trend continues with this record and it opens up with Teach Me an acoustic love song that shows off Henson’s great vocal and writing skills.
There is a really haunting feel to this track and there is a pain and heartbreak with every word that he sings.
Lying To You is the lead single off the album, also released this week, is another stripped back track that has a sparse arrangement and yet it is extremely beautiful.
This is a track that is about staying with someone even though you don’t love them and it is an incredibly moving and powerful song.
Don’t Swim sees Henson mix up his sound a bit - it may start like all of the previous track but the all of a sudden the pace changes and it is track that really swells - it does come as a bit of a surprise.
But change of pace and the introduction of heavier instrumentation really is a welcome change and it gives this track and the album another dimension.
The heavier production is evident on next track Kronos - which was one of my personal favourites - and this shows off a darker side to the singer.
Birthdays is a triumph. It is one of those records that is beautiful and yet painful to listen to all at the same time because of the emotion that Henson pours into each and every track.
The songs also stir a lot of emotions in you as a listener as he taps into thoughts and feelings that we can all relate to.
Keaton Henson is an incredibly honest and open song-writer and his up front style really is a breath of fresh air.
Keaton Henson - Birthdays is out now