Search - Natalie Walker :: Urban Angel (Dig)

Takes aim at the heart

Len | Los Angeles | 09/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let me begin by saying if you are considering this album, buy this version. The other two import versions sold on Amazon do not contain two very lovely tracks: Crush and the Thievery Corp. remix of Quicksand.



In terms of composition, Urban Angel reminds me so much of my cherished Mandalay Solace album. Arrangements are simple yet rich - filtered only for what conveys thought and emotional while leaving behind the superfluous elements that plague most over-produced albums. Nothing seems out of place. Nothing seems pretentious. Urban Angel is honest music ... music that takes unmissable aim at the heart.



Urban angel is a crafted album with a central theme revolving around facets of love: love lost, love sought, love found, love disillusioned, love unrequited, love that never was. Every track's score and lyrics are masterfully intertwined. Urban Angel is a complete album and not a patchwork of designed-for-radio singles. (As a related aside: The album cover art is brilliantly chosen. The simple sepia photo framing Natalie's unadulterated, beautiful face with her piercing gaze mirrors the musical experience within).



Compared to Daughter Darling (Natalie's previous band who realeased one of my favorite albums, Sweet Shadows), Urban Angel is more stripped down and more emotionally exposed. It's less experimental, more organic and more melodic. With its more universal musical and lyrical refrains, Natalie's solo album should speak to a wider audience.



Natalie's voice is unmistakable. Fans of Daughter Darling will immediately find home again in her sultry but innocent vocal performance. She has a charming tendency to slur her words as if one continuous thought.



Of the hundreds of new albums I've listened to thus far this year, Urban Angel is a stand-out. The more I replay it (almost always from start to finish), the deeper my appreciation grows. I have little doubt Natalie's solo debut will continue to be a staple in my collection. And if you've come so far as to read her album's reviews, I have little doubt you that you will not regret making Natalie Walker's Urban Angel part of your collection too.

"

Natalie Walker

Michelle A. Cope | Columbus, Ohio | 09/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My Definition of Electronic:

It's a term that I hear and see a lot of in the pop music category. Electronic - it's not overbearing or overproduced. It's a mixture of music and sounds that give a definite setting for the world our ears often bring to our mind's eye. You can hear the wind blow, the rain fall and heartbeats. The music helps to illustrate the lyrics. Just listen to this CD and you will understand.



Urban Angel by Natalie Walker

Natalie Walker lives in Philadelphia, but she's from Indiana. Oh, it makes me proud to be a mid-west gal. Natalie's first solo debut is fun, elegant, funky, self-describing, romantic, sexy and haunting. Her lyric writing is incredible and the CD's first single, "No One Else", was featured on the HBO series, Entourage. You might also be familiar with "Quicksand" - it was played during the trailer for the film Marie Antoinette.



If her voice sounds familiar, that's easy to explain, too. Natalie is a former member of Daughter Darling. Her voice is so clear and fresh and her lyrics enunciated with sultry sweetness that tell stories and bring characters to life. I love that quality. I have a high respect and admiration for singer/songwriters. As I writer, I appreciate what it takes to envelope a moment in time into a short story. I can't even begin to imagine trying to plot and characterize a song, however, Natalie does an outstanding job on this project.



The first artist I thought of when I began to play the CD was Bjork. I wasn't surprised to find out that Bjork is one of her influences.



Natalie is 25 years old. I remember being 25, um . . . it was, a few years ago or so. It can often be a hard and self-defining age. However, the maturity of Natalie's music and songwriting is astounding and I look forward to adding more of her projects to my collection. I think I need a bigger iPod!



My Favorites



Crush - Electronic raindrops run through this song. A story of love found or lost? You decide.



Quicksand - I love the sound effects on this piece. I could actually hear sand falling behind the crispness of Natalie's voice. The lyrics tell a tale that many of us have lived, sometimes more than once.



Urban Angel - I have never been to New York. This song makes me want to visit a place described by Natalie as a place of love, protection and perseverance.



No One Else - Do you remember how it feels at the beginning of falling in love? You simply want to pull a giant window shade down on the rest of the world and be with each other? Natalie puts those feelings into melodic words.



Colorblind - Wow! This song is haunting and fun at the same time. I love the lyrics, my favorite being "Taffy stuck and tongue tied".



Thanks to Natalie Walker, I have another great CD to add to my "listen to while writing" category.

"

This Girl Makes Beautiful Music.

Bryon McDonald | Lawrence, KS, USA | 10/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is inventive. Unique. Sexy and Elegant. At times haunting. But most of all, beautiful. Her voice is soft and delicate, with a surprising range. My friends who've heard the album agree--the sound of this album is what really lends to its cohesive, perfect feel--these songs fill a lot of space with ease. It's definitely down-tempo, on the chill side; works best at night or at relaxing times.



Most comparable to Kate Havnevik, but slower and deeper. Emotionally Honest. Would probably be classified as electronic, with various samplings used in dense but sweeping orchestrations, while some songs are as simple as her voice and a guitar or a piano. Also provides a pretty good cover of "Colorblind", in a slightly higher octave, and a tiny bit faster; it's interesting to hear a woman's voice if you love the CC version.



If I had to explain why I used the word "perfect" a second ago, I'd have to say it's in Natalie's hooks. In the choruses above all else, she uses her voice to create flowing, gentle phrases that transform these songs into ethereal realms. One listen to "you are my / weak in the knees," the hook in "Rest Easy," and the emotion-laden track-with-a-message (and my personal favorite) "Circles" will make you a believer in this sleeper talent."