Best of 2007, and 2008
T. I. edän | 03/11/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm a music lover of sorts - with a wide variety of tastes. I've followed Ninja Tune off and on for >10 years. I tend to go for more mainstream electronica and as such mostly end up browsing but not buying from Ninja. On the other hand, I also completely dig artists like Mark Hollis.
Fink was a COMPLETE surprise. I never expected Ninja to release something like this. I had heard Fink's (unimpressive) first album and, to use a worn phrase, was blown away when I heard the new album.
The way to describe this record is to talk about utter honesty, simplicity, and balance. I tend to listen to lyrics, and the way Fink writes, and especially how he translates the stories into emotion in his voice is just top-notch. In terms of expression, it reminds me of Sting & "They Dance Alone" or "Fragile", but with an extra dose of honesty and believability. The string arrangements and guitar work in general are beautiful - nothing fancy, but they "support the plot" perfectly.
Again I'm reminded of Mark Hollis and his focus on expression through details. If Hollis wasn't so "Indie" with his approach to music, this may be what he would sound like, too. Which is actually praise for Fink."