Hearts and Cigarettes

Photo Willy Ward

So I slept through most of April but one thing I did manage to do was to go see Chet Faker at The Toff in Town one Thursday night.  If you aren't already on the bandwagon or don't have the pleasure of experiencing Melbourne's perfect little music scene then I recommend you hop on now because this guy is quickly going places.

Also known formally as Nick Murphy, Faker possesses a definite strength in his voice and a tight live presence despite his young age.  Have a listen of a recording he did at 3RRR a few months ago and you'll see why.  Described as a bit dubstep, a bit electronica, a bit I-have-no-idea, his EP Thinking In Textures is exactly that: layered, considered and very clever.  Most of all, a desire to go about things on his own terms and to not be swept up in the hype (which more than often results in being dumped later) means that I'm definitely sure he'll be a growing force for a while.  I also work with a girl who is friends with him so perhaps I'll just leave uni and become a groupie.

Read this review that was in The Age (it was the first one I read and is still my favourite) because it captures it all perfectly.  He's also done a bit of acoustic work under the name Atlas Murphy (who I saw unintentionally live - the power of the pseudonym) which is pretty great too.