Three must-hear songs by the late Nick Talbot

Bristol musician Nick Talbot, aka Gravenhurst, sadly passed away recently but leaves behind a beautiful back-catalogue of haunting, poignant songs. Tributes have been paid to a ‘brilliantly imaginative, dark and funny’ artist. Read our full tribute to Nick here.

Journalist Julian Owen said: “In the early acoustic years, almost every piece written about Gravenhurst compared him to another Nick, Drake. In my first article about him, I argued why people were wrong. Today, I have to revise that position. Only after Drake had breathed his last did people recognise him as one of the greatest artists of his age. The same belated awareness will, surely, attend my late, dear friend.”

Below, some Bristol music lovers share their favourite Gravenhurst song. A good starting point for anyone who’s yet to experience Nick’s captivating music…

The Diver

Sparse and brooding strings and driving keys lead you into a dark and haunting song, with crystal clear pure and fragile vocals. From the opening lyric “It’s getting darker, and I’m still swimming. It hits me again.” you’re transported into a story, a story full of images and emotion and Nick holds your hand on his magnificent melancholic journey. Taken from his album, Flashlight Sessions, which has just been released as a special vinyl package there’s something compelling about this track – which still packs a punch 10 years after its first release. Listen to The Diver, here.

Laura Williams, Music Editor – Bristol 24/7

Song From Under The Arches

My favourite Gravenhurst album is actually Flashlight Seasons; it’s a record that speaks of introspection, an inward sorrow which Fires In Distant Buildings turns back outwards as a visceral rock album with its driven guitars and drums ranging from tight and controlled to explosive. Song From Under The Arches exemplifies the bridge between the two records, its lyrics moving from despair to purpose and back again in five brief lines, while the instrumentation goes from whisper-quiet to deafening, nightmarish riff. The purpose in the kick and snare is particularly haunting, a stately striding sensation among the atmospherics. For all that it’s awash with effects, strange loops and distortion, its instrumentation feels oddly pure. I love this song, in all its horror. Listen to Song From Under The Arches, here.

Alex Bertram-Powell, illustrator and musician

Black Holes In The Sand

There are so many great songs that I could pick as being my favourite Gravenhurst song. This shows the strength of his material; he never really wrote a weak song. Bit if I have to pick one, I think I am going to have to go for Black Holes in The Sand. It’s just such a beautifully sombre and haunting song. It always made me feel as if ice was being tipped down my neck when I heard him play it live. Spine-tingling. There is something really fragile about his voice and his lyrical word play and the harrowing guitars which gradually build and build combine with this to create a beautiful song. Listen to Black Holes In The Sand, here.

Jeffrey Johns, aka Big Jeff