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Richard Walters has been a constant source of musical genius in his
native Oxford for some years now. When his band Theremin released the single
Minor Planets on local label Shifty Disco it seemed only a matter of time
before someone picked up on his way with a tune and his wonderfully delicate
voice.
Sadly it wasn't to be, and in the time between Theremin's disappointing
collapse and the release of The Animal, it appeared that Walters was
destined to become a local legend and nothing more, despite having secured a
publishing deal with Warner Chappell and receiving a fair bit of attention
after one of his songs was used on CSI:Miami (All At Sea - which appears on
this album).
Given a bit of luck, it's wholly possible that Walters' considerable
talents could finally reach a wider audience with the release of this album, for
it's fairly safe to say that Richard Walters has never, ever been referred
to as "The Animal". The evidence provided by this album suggests that the
necessary ingredients to be a wild man are simply not in him. Stripped of a
band, Walters now plies his trade as a singer songwriter, and what he lacks
in muscle is more than made up for with his remarkably delicate voice.
Comparisons to the likes of Jeff Buckley or Thom Yorke are
not entirely without foundation, as Walters is in possession of a voice that
can break hearts within seconds. Pitched in a high register and shot through
with an aching quality that few vocalists can pull off convincingly he is
far from a wannabe emulator, and indeed, he uses his greatest asset to
devastating effect throughout The Animal.
Single Brittle Bones opens the album and is glorious in its minimal
approach. A basic guitar line forms the basis of the track while
interjections from glockenspiel, piano and a gorgeous female backing vocal
round the track out. Over all this Walters drawls his rounded vowels and
tale of heartbreak with an almost whispered vocal that nearly cracks under
the emotion. It's a strong opening to say the least.
All At Sea is bubbling with sadness that is far from brooding, but is
instead oddly uplifting. Artfully layered strings push his plaintive vocals
to new heights, and it would be a cynical swine whose heart didn't skip a
beat when Walters soars up through the scales during one of the song's most
emotive motifs.
It's not all sadness and heartbreak though. The Daniel Johnson
cover True Love Will Find You In The End suits Walters perfectly as he takes
the positive message within Johnson's lyrics and adds weight and hope to it.
It may sound thoroughly depressing initially, but those rays of light peek
through the clouds clearly by the end of the track.
Ultimately these songs of heartbreak and disillusionment showcase an
unbelievable vocal talent, and if you're in the mood for that kind of
thing then this is the perfect album. It is. however, a little hard to get
away from the fact that, at times, Walters relies a little too heavily on his
voice and neglects to write anything more than a terribly basic, and
occasionally uninspiring, musical accompaniment. The Animal is also at times
far too one paced; it's sad that Walters hasn't mixed it up a little. That
said, there is no denying that The Animal is a very accomplished, affecting
record, and one that should give Richard Walters the recognition he so
richly deserves.
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