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Weird Dreams - Choreography (album)

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Album Review

Nik Freitas
Saturday Night Underwater Affairs of the Heart Records

Article written by Ged M - Jun 17, 2011

Nik Freitas: Saturday Night Underwater

Nik Freitas is a member of Conor Oberst’s Mystic Valley band and a member of the performing band for Broken Bones (the James Mercer/ Dangermouse collaboration). His own music, which he plays all by himself on this, his fourth album, comes across as a hybrid of these approaches: Oberst’s wordy singer/songwriter set-up (Freitas is also perhaps a less angsty version of Elliott Smith) combined with the more electronically-enhanced pop produced by Broken Bones. He can write a killer melody, as most of these tracks prove, but there’s always something slightly missing – his voice is a little undistinguished and his songs can tend towards being just easy on the ear. The shimmery title track with its poppier Shins feel stands out along with the gorgeous melodic Americana of ‘Little Man’. There are interesting elements - some twiddly brass bits on ‘In The Frame’ and a melodic myriad of hook-baited songs - but on the whole it just floats past nicely rather than demands your attention.

Links:
http://www.nikfreitas.com/nikfreitas.cfm
http://www.myspace.com/nikfreitas