Nick Murphy is the legal name of Chet Faker, chosen as an homage to 50’s Jazz singer and trumpeter Chet Baker. Faker's first hit was a viral cover of BLACKsteet’s "No Diggity" in May 2011, leading to a record deal, well-received EP (2012's Thinking in Textures) and collaborations with MS MR, Flume, and Say Lou Lou. His “chill”, slightly leftfield indie-electronic hybrid style fit neatly with contemporaries Rhye and How To Dress Well, but something didn't quite feel right. He explains as follows: “Chet Faker was me trying to prove something to myself. But my tastes are pretty dynamic, and I realized I’ve spent time resisting that. Now I want to put everything in. It’s not conceptual anymore. It’s just me.” His first release as under his own name was the Missing Link EP (featuring Kaytranada) in 2017, a tidy harbinger of what was to come. Run Fast Sleep Naked sees Murphy teaming up with producer Dave Harrington, known from his guitar work with proggy electronic project Darkside alongside Nicolas Jaar. More soulful than his 2014 debut, the record ditches the cool, clinical electronics for organic instrumentation (including a full orchestra!) and a wide range of voices. Opening track “Hear It Now” is an immediate declaration of intent, with dramatic harp, angelic choir, and rugged sax blasts. “Harry Takes Drugs On The Weekend” is brass stabs and electronic organ, “Novacaine and Coca Cola” is personal and minimalist. This record is packaged in a matte-finish reverse board sleeve and is pressed on black vinyl.

• black vinyl pressing
• reverse board sleeve
• digital download included
• music label: Downtown Records 2019

reviewed by MARCUS MARR 07/2019