Hand Built By Robots (Audio CD)

Home Grown Can Be Good Too The first time I heard this lad the great Leo Kottke came to mind. Forty years his senior, his many recordings place muscular yet refined guitar technique centre stage, whether as the main course or supporting his rich but sometimes wayward baritone. Mr Faulkner is likewise a robust technician whose percussive guitar style supports a fine voice and songwriting of distinction. His lyrics workmanlike; his melodies memorable. 'I Need Something'; 'Dream Catch Me' ; 'Gone In The Morning'; uptempo, densely rhythmic and with a cool eye for a killer hook. 'Uncomfortably Slow'; 'Straight Towards The Sun'; 'Lullaby' and the tiny but beautiful interlude 'Face (Her)' demonstrate an innate capacity for tenderness and reflection. The production is sympathetic and uncluttered. There's nothing here that shouldn't be. This classy debut points to a bright and boyant future.

Sheer brilliance. After hearing a fleeting line or two of his cover of Massive Attack's Teardrop, I went out to buy this album and I'm extremely glad I did. His voice, technical skill, clever lyrics and brilliant melodies all factor in to making this a perfectly flowing album. Not my usual style at all, but I can't help but fall in love with this masterpiece - if you're looking for something that you can really listen to and chill out to, then this is definitely the album for you.

Surprisingly good! Like a dreadlocked cross between Jack Johnson and John Mayer, Newton Faulkner's debut album combines intricate, interesting and inventive acoustic guitar playing (check out the use of the guitar body as percussion) with a soulful, commercially-appealing vocal and a substantial array of excellent, enjoyable songs. A little too quirky to be comfortably mainstream, Newton (real first name: Sam) has released an impressively good first album which could easily appeal to fans of many genres and could, indeed, comfortably sell albums to both fans of radio-friendly pop and indie-folk lovers without either feeling as if they are betraying their tastes. My favourite tracks are the catchy and very slightly silly Gone In The Morning, the sadness and themes of alienation of Uncomfortably Slow, the gentle beauty of Straight Towards The Sun and the short but very sweet She's Got The Time which has the strong scent of The White Stripes. It's a bone of contention that, lyrically, Newton possibly isn't as well-developed as his musical intuition certainly is and there are a few times during the album that you don't quite feel as if he has progressed beyond the surface, but given the fact that he is in his early twenties and, such is his charm, that he always just about gets away with whatever he tries on this album, you can forgive him for those brief moments. This album is just such a pleasure from start to finish because of the raw talent of the guy - I'd be very surprised if he didn't have a long and successful career ahead of him.

Class Act This really is a great CD. Tune after tune, Newton hits the spot. Britain's answer to "Jack Johnson" maybe not, but he is a very talented singer song writer and a great guitarist to boot! Buy it you will not be disappointed.

Unexpectedly Moving I became hooked on the single from this album "Dream Catch Me" and bought the album on impulse.I found Newton Faulkner's voice highly emotional and very enjoyable to listen to. Worth hearing and deserving of its high chart placing.