Buffalo Nichols
Buffalo Nichols keeps his debut small, but its feelings are large. Guitar and his rough voice carry most of the music. Additional backing only occasionally becomes prominent. This makes the songs direct. Words about loneliness, injustice and difficult relationships receive little protection from a large arrangement.
Lost & Lonesome establishes that approach convincingly. The guitar maintains the movement while Nichols tells a tired, searching story. The song sounds accessible, yet its tension between wanting company and distrusting others remains clear. His voice does not need to become loud to express that feeling.
Another Man brings the social concerns into sharper focus. Racism and police violence are addressed over spare backing that gives the words room. The directness works because the music avoids constantly underlining their seriousness with added effects. Nichols also writes on a more personal scale. These Things combines violin and acoustic guitar, giving the record a gentler colour.
The later songs expand the sound. Back On Top has more drums and a looser, brighter movement. Closing track Sorry It Was You adds guitar layers and a fuzzy solo to a story of mistakes and regret. The small line-up leaves some room to change.
There are limitations. The vocals often keep the same shape, making certain songs seem more similar than their subjects deserve. Extra percussion does not always strengthen the music either. The quietest moments can be the most convincing. Buffalo Nichols reveals a musician who expresses plenty with limited means. The debut leaves room to grow, but its combination of voice, guitar and clear stories already stands firmly.
