Description
Nick Waterhouse has been tempting fate over the last decade, exploring a groove that draws heavily from early-’60s R&B and jazz, yet he’s never been a simple retro act. Despite an obvious affection for such greats as Mose Allison and Ray Charles, he’s turned his inspirations into something new, thanks to swinging vocals and a gift for crafting cliché-free songs
The haunting tour de force The Fooler finds him confronting ghosts of the past in more than one way, encountering persistent memories of failed romance even as he reconfigures vintage influences in exciting fashion. Although recording in mono today might seem like a gimmick, Waterhouse and producer Mark Neill make the unconventional gambit work beautifully. Every piece of their dense wall of sound is cleanly defined, with voices, keyboards, brass, and guitars all coming through clearly. This is punchy pop music with an orchestral elegance.
A stellar crooner, Waterhouse can echo the swagger of Lou Reed or Bob Dylan, but he never resorts to sneering for its own sake. In fact, The Fooler rejects the idea of playing it cool.
PS Suzanne is a huge fan…give him a listen!
