Newton Faulkner is an imposing figure, with a mass of ginger dreadlocks and natty goatee beard. He's a popular figure within Britain's surfing community (yes, it does exist) where his none-more-mellow songs have obviously made the perfect soundtrack to 'catching a wave' in Newquay.
Sadly, Newton's image and fanbase is a lot more interesting than his music. I Need Something is so laid-back it's horizontal, with finger-picking acoustic guitar and Faulkner's smooth bluesey vocals to the fore. There's nothing though that makes you sit up and take notice - it may very well sound nice enough while bathing on a beach somewhere, but it lacks any kind of emotion or soul.
Faulkner's already being tipped as 'the UK's answer to Jack Johnson'. Surely it's a moot point whether we actually need the original Jack Johnson and his drab inoffensive musings, never mind an inferior British imitator?
share with:
