Jacob Slater - Pinky, I Love You

As frontman for Wunderhorse, and previously Dead Pretties, Jacob Slater has proven himself capable of any flavour of indie-rock, be it thoughtful or growling. But on ‘Pinky, I Love You’, he defies expectation once again with a collection of delicate, yearning songs. Almost without exception, he plays guitar and sings unaccompanied: sometimes in hushed tones, like on the breathtaking ‘I Do’; sometimes in a gathering crescendo, with ‘Untitled’ ending with his already distinctive voice reaching heights he’s not shown on record before. With such a stripped back record, there are easy comparisons to draw, with ‘Dead Submarines’ echoing Nick Drake’s unsettling chord choices and wistful lyricism, or ‘Kissin’ Booth’ sharing the same music box arpeggios as Adrianne Lenker on her solo works. But these comparisons come at face value, and the songs themselves earn a deeper respect. Jacob conjures a feeling of familiarity while being a wholly fresh voice, and ‘Pinky, I Love You’ confirms him as a fine songwriting talent.