Natalie Walker Reviewed
Natalie Walker
Urban Angel
(Dorado)
Sheltered Indiana schoolgirl releases shadowy, hidden solo debut.
From the same school as Emiliana Torrini, early Goldfrapp, Dido, and Heather Duby, Natalie Walker glides through these 12 songs shrouded in a billowing white sheet, hovering inches above the floor. Her harmonies on “Quicksand” puff out into plush clouds and pillows, shimmering above haunting guitars and a downtempo jungle beat. “Rest Easy” begins as an upside-down TV theme before plunging underwater so Walker can come as close to pop as she can, though by the chorus she’s in full flight again. Tracks like “No One Else” and “Not The End” reach into the vacant soundscapes of Hooverphonic and Lamb before bowing out in the simple, piano balladry on “Sanckens Doll.”
— Steve Forstneger
Click here to stream “Quicksand.”
