Sheer notoriety of the late jazz trumpeter makes it impossible for most to ignore thoughts of Chet Baker upon mention of Chet Faker. For Nick Murphy, that must be music to his ears. Supposedly choosing a stage name to avoid confusion with his ambiguous given name, Murphy settled on a moniker that comes with baggage of its own. Though it’s still early in Murphy’s career, the influence and style of Baker has found its way into the music of Chet Faker in both theme and delivery.
In “Blush,” patience and improvisation are obvious connections to the controlled chaos of jazz. Extended rests also bear the genre’s distinct mark. Building on the frequent sad overtones and muted singing of Baker, Murphy’s playful tinkering of the vocals push past subdued melodies to use the surging rush to create a relaxingly positive vibe. As the crescendo tops out on a slow-moving wave, Murphy’s impressive voice is on display for all to hear. The same fresh chops that first brought attention to Chet Faker in 2012 with Blackstreet cover, “No Diggity,” do not disappoint on his newest single. While “Blush” doesn’t have the same instant-bedroom appeal of the Australian’s breakthrough cover, it is current and dripping with soul.
Initial impressions of the recently released debut, Built on Glass, suggest Chet Faker finds a groove as easily as the greats and takes his time once in it. After an introduction featuring intense vocal distortion, “Blush” hits and holds its stride around the mid-mark before a minimalist approach to close the song is once again able to showcase Murphy’s voice. Creativity with effects and attention to production detail, attributes commonly found in electronica, are a nice compliment to a characteristic not so frequently seen in the genre, intimate vocals. Chet Baker would be proud.