Nik Freitas -‘Saturday Night Underwater’ (Affairs Of the Heart)

It’s been three years since his last album Sun Down. Since then, Nik Freitas has been busy chalking up impressive entries on his extra-curricular CV. This has included becoming a member of Conor Oberst’s Mystic Valley band, who he played guitar with live and on record. Not only that, hethen joined the Broken Bells (Danger Mouse and The Shins’ James Mercer) as part of their touring band.

I mention this not to flesh out the review – but because it’s clear that as well as helping pay the bills, it’s also inpacted on his own work. These collaborations have fed into Saturday Night Underwater. This album sees him incorporating electronic instruments into the mix, giving the album more depth and a rather more adventurous feel than its’ predecessor. rather like Oberst’s Bright Eyes album Digital Ash In A Digital Urn, this record rather goes against the grain of what is often expected from the usual singer-songwriter mould. Opening with the excellent title track, there’s a warm, fuzzy feeling from this album throughout.

More than just that, though, there’s a feeling that in a world saturated with singer-songwriters, Freitas is broadening his palette. The electronic work is the basis of much of this album, rather than just as afterthought of sonic window-dressing. Indeed, the record only dips when he plays it a little more conventional.

I hope to see him venture more down this road.

Saturday Night Underwater is relased by Affairs Of The Heart on June 6.

To download the mp3 of ‘Middle’ from the album go here