Album Review : Newton Faulkner ‘Write It On Your Skin’

Write It On Your Skin is Newton Faulkner’s third studio album and arrives five years after his million selling debut, but in many ways he still appears to be trying to re-create the winning formula that garnered him so much commercial success back in 2007.

This is not necessarily a bad thing as the results are pleasing, if somewhat safe and familiar. Songs like “Clouds”, “Brick By Brick”, “Sugar In The Snow”, and the title track all feel like they could have easily been lifted from the Hand Built By Robots recording sessions.

What is most frustrating is the absence of something which breaks new musical ground as Faulkner is clearly a gifted songwriter. The closest he comes is with “Long Shot”. Its simple guitar plucking and vocal interplay is both affecting and effective.

Although this release will likely sate the appetite of his existing fan base, the music feels like a placeholder for better things to come further down the line.  A fun listen but nothing you haven’t heard already in previous records.

[3 out of 5 stars]