Fink
Distance & Time
Ninja Tune/ Inertia


Fink was a musical revelation for me last year with his debut album 'Biscuits For Breakfast'. This once trip hop DJ and producer pulled off a highly successful musical genre shift, and has now stamped himself as one of the faces of the new age folk and the acoustic music movement. So I had very high expectations of his sophomore album, and I am ecstatic to say that not only has he met them all, but he has catapulted himself into the stratosphere.

Fink opens his new album with Trouble's What You're In; layered over quite deep beats and soaring strings, it is reminiscent of past trip hop beats. Which begged the question whether Fink was reverting to his former self in this new album? But as you travel further, it becomes quite obvious that he has well and truly immersed himself in the acoustic world.

This album has also a very different feel to his feel-good debut; 'Distance & Time' is much more emotive, with an underlying theme of heartbreak and loss. And Fink covers the full scope of the theme with the lead off single, This Is The Thing, a minimal yet honest track about a dying relationship, the stripped back If Only that is full of regret and hope at the same time, the angry Get Your Share, and the hopeful fragility of Make It Good.

Not only has 'Distance & Time' cemented Fink's foray into the world of new age acoustic music, but has also showcased his growth and evolution as a singer and songwriter. This was aided by handing over the album's production duties to Lamb's Andy Barlow, and the result is a full bodied, sophisticated and endearing album, worthy of a hearty listen.

Leo Varona