Today marks the North American release of Philip Selway's Familial. The Detroit Free Press says the Radiohead drummer "defies expectations on his solo debut," which "showcases Selway's gentle, tuneful vocals ... Familial is a wonderful surprise." The Globe and Mail gives the album four stars, citing its ""haunting Nick Drake-style of contemporary folk." The Village Voice says "Elliott Smith's influence runs strong." Philadelphia Weekly calls it "a delicate and dreamy record of intimately told folk songs."
Today marks the Nonesuch release of Familial, Philip Selway's debut solo album, in North America. NPR has said that "when you listen to the beautifully produced pieces Selway came up with on Familial, it's easy to see him not as a percussionist, but as a genuine singer-songwriter."
The Village Voice spoke with Selway about the shift from Radiohead drummer to solo singer-songwriter for Familial. The Voice's Vijith Assar says of the album : "Elliott Smith's influence runs strong on these delicately strummed tracks, Selway's quiet whisper cooing over songs steeped in striking sentimentality." Selway talks about the new album, including his passing percussion duties along to Wilco's Glenn Kotche, in an interview at villagevoice.com.
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Toronto's Globe and Mail gives the album four stars, citing its "haunting Nick Drake-style of contemporary folk." Read the review at theglobeandmail.com.
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The Detroit Free Press says that Selway "defies expectations on his solo debut." Reviewer Martin Bandyke describes Familial as "acoustic and atmospheric," an album that "showcases Selway's gentle, tuneful vocals, pleasantly defeating preconceived notions all along the way ... Haunting in nature and without a self-indulgent drum solo in earshot, Familial is a wonderful surprise." Read more at freep.com.
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Philadelphia Weekly's Bill Chenevert calls it "a delicate and dreamy record of intimately told folk songs," exclaiming, of Selway: "he can sing!" Chenevert considers the album to be a mix of "Brit folk, Midwestern chill and California breeze—s’a nice blend!" Read more at philadelphiaweekly.com.
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Las Vegas City Life recognizes the distinction between Selway's solo album and his work with Radiohead. "He develops his own voice through a plaintive, stripped-down, downtempo, singer/songwriter-style sound, one where the music seems to open up to allow his voice to breathe," writes reviewer Mike Prevatt. That sound offers "a nice, absorbing counterbalance to the complexity to which we're accustomed with his more famous, more musical family." Read the complete review at lasvegascitylife.com.
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Selway performed a live set on the Radcliffe and Maconie Show on BBC Radio 2 in the UK, where the album was released yesterday on Bella Union. You can listen online for the next six days at bbc.co.uk; Selway's segment starts around 39 minutes in and continues later in the show.
The Observer's Killian Fox says "Selway sings, and very nicely too, about father-son ties and solitude. His quiet, melodic voice heightens the intimacy, and even though dark subjects are touched upon, a mood of optimism prevails." Read more at guardian.co.uk.
The Times of London gives the album four stars. Reviewer Kaya Burgess says Selway has created "an alternative acoustic universe of intricate guitar picking, tightly written melodies and soft, confident vocals." The Mail on Sunday gives the album four stars as well. "A typical drummer's album this isn't," says the Mail's Adam Woods. "For one thing, the main characteristics are Selway's expressive vocals."
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Selway and his band make their way to Ireland this weekend for the Electric Picnic at Stradbally Hall, as part of their month-long tour. For more information, visit nonesuch.com/on-tour. To pick up a copy of Familial in the US and Canada, head to the Nonesuch Store now.
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