As each year gets close to its end, I start scavenging other people’s “best of” lists to find something I’ve not heard before, something to have for the future. This is especially true this year when we lost so many known and unknown musical names. Usually, you run into names that you either know too well, don’t think should be there, or already agree with. Exceptions of that “new thing” are usually rare. Usually it is a blog or site you rarely visits that comes up with that surprise you’re waiting for.
And it did come from a friendly blogger that dabbles with names not too familiar. This time it is an Australian guy from Perth, Timothy Nelson and his first solo album, “Words Like Young”. Now, there seems to be something in the air or water over there in Perth, so they come up with this excellent musicians and bands, like the legendary (to me at least) The Triffids. Nelson is cut form the same cloth in many ways.
Now, this is solo album is not his first outing. It turns out he has a full-fledged band, Timothy Nelson & The Infidels, so why a solo album with a band under his own name ? After checking The Infidels second album that I found available, the reasons presented themselves. While the band affair is a full fledged ELO - George Harrison vibe (a big plus in my book), like with Nelson’s Australian compatriot Luke Steele of the Sleepy Jackson/Empire of the Sun conglomerate, the solo treads somewhat other waters.
This time with “Words Like Young” it is like “back to Perth” thing, with a Triffids feeling from the fantastic “Born Sandy Devotional” album with the omni-present pedal steel guitar combined with The Posies like harmonies: another great set of influences. But as is usual when somebody has talent and flair, Nelson adds something extra that puts his music beyond imitation and influences he relies on .
The album has a diversified and unified feel at the same time, the leading three tracks, “Explain”, “Living Saloon” and “It’s a Shame” make such a strong introduction, that even if the rest of the album is under par, you wouldn’t mind. But Nelson keeps up the quality to the last track - “We Never Change”.
Whatever he does next, solo or with the Infidels, Timothy Nelson will definitely fly far.
