Natural Self – Neon Hurts My Eyes

Neon Hurts My Eyes marks a striking shift in direction for Brighton producer Nathaniel Pearn, aka Natural Self. Previously known for an aesthetic that drew upon funk, jazz and Latin influences while ultimately remaining anchored within a hip-hop paradigm, Pearn has now reinvented himself as a singer-songwriter. Thankfully, that hasn’t meant eschewing electronica for acoustic guitar-led balladeering: the sonic tapestry underpinning Neon Hurts My Eyes is, if anything, more complex and eclectic than on any of Pearn’s earlier records.
 
On darker, introspective tracks like Mirror to the Sky, the brooding vocals bring James Blake to mind. Dancier pieces such as Red Wire Blue Wire, characterised by shuffling, syncopated rhythms and sultry, synth-heavy chord progressions, are closer to Toro Y Moi’s narcotic pop. Pearn has chosen to do things in an unusual order, honing a mastery of hip-hop and electronica textures before turning his focus to melodic songwriting; but the results are impressive. [Sam Wiseman]