Introducing Luke Rathborne

Posted by Mark in Reviews | 5 comments

Luke Rathborne – Luke Rathborne
9/10

Luke Rathbone is yet another artist sent my way via my good friends at Sonic Cathedral. In much the same way as I was blown away by the musical maturity of Dylan Le Blanc in 2010, this self-titled mini-album shows musical maturity beyond his years. Now residing in Brooklyn – having moved up from Brunswick Maine – and still only 22 years old, this guy pretty much has it all for me. It’s no surprise to me that Ryan Gentles from The Strokes has chosen to manage this prodigious talent or that Devendra Banhart personally invited him on tour.

Opening track ‘Tomorrow’ a pleasant a slice of Americana that does not really give a clue as to the depths to come later. This album slow burns into your soul to leave an indelible hole. Five tracks on the record features members of Antony & The Johnsons; one of the biggest identity-changing and life-affirming moments for Luke as a teenager was the band’s ‘I Am A Bird Now’. Having homed in on the name of drummer Todd Cohen whilst pouring over the sleeve notes, he searched phone books and cold called him. Luckily, it was the right Todd Cohen, despite the fact that he was now known as Tahrah after a gender change. Amazingly, after some correspondence, Tarah asked to work with him and got arranger Maxim Moston and cellist Julia Kent involved as well.

To be perfectly honest, as good as they are the first three tracks pale into insignificance once Moston’s orchestral arrangement and Rathborne’s fragile falsetto rip at your heartstrings on ‘I Can Be One’. I defy anyone not to feel the emotion rise from deep in them; I know I can feel it right now as I write in my darkened office, headphones turned high. As ‘I Can Be One’ faded away, I felt stripped bare and thought the rest of the record would be some kind of anti-climax.

How wrong could I have been! Though the arrangement on ‘Solon Town’ brings a little respite, the hauntingly stark vocal pitched perfectly alongside Julia Kent’s cello is just as powerful. ‘Sad Days’ and’ Motor City’ carry you on through the soul-bearing journey from Rathborne’s pen. The closing track ‘You Let Me In’, I kid you not reminds me of vintage Rolling Stones a la Sticky Fingers, and as a stand-alone track it nearly hits the heights of ‘Wild Horses’.

Dropping on his own True Believers label March 7th both on download and 12″ vinyl, this will be his UK debut. Released in the US March 8th via Dilttante Recordings. Although there are some fantastic young singer/songwriters out there, I have no hesitation in recommending this as an essential record you should add to your collection in 2011.

Luke Rathbone – Dog Years

http://www.myspace.com/lukerathborne

Luke plays a FREE one off show at The Social, London W1 on Wednesday February 23rd if you are in the metropolis I would urge you to get along to it.