Nick Hudson – Kanda Teenage Honey

The 16 tracks on Nick Hudson’s wide and ambitious album “Kanda Teenage Honey” show his skill as an avant-pop musician. This album, which was recorded in an old Soviet film studio in Georgia amid the backdrop of the conflict in Ukraine, is not just a musical journey but also an immersive experience that incorporates a stellar cast of collaborators and a wide spectrum of influences. From the opening track “Khevsureti,” Hudson sets the tone with atmospheric and cinematic vibes, blending strings and dreamy synth pads reminiscent of the New Romantics era. His vocals, often compared to the likes of David Bowie and Spandau Ballet, add a ballad-like quality to the track. As the album progresses, each song unveils a new facet of Hudson’s musical vision. “For My Silence” shows Hudson’s range and storytelling ability as it begins with acoustic folk elements and develops into a prog-rock twist. Songs such as “Sky Burial While Alive” explore experimental boundaries with trip-hop elements and electronic mosaics, while “Hollow Man” features catchy guitar work recalling doom metal (My Dying Bride’s doom atmosphere) and neo-prog. During the album, Hudson moves smoothly between genres, merging jazzy pieces (“Archipelago”), minimalist dreamscapes (“Bardo”), and piano-based ballads (“This Heat,” “Hunters”). The album’s complex mosaic of sounds is enhanced by the guest appearances of well-known musicians like Alfreda Benge and Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai. Among the standout songs are the ethereal “Unspent Youth,” whose dreamy pads and string arrangements carry listeners to faraway areas, and the achingly beautiful “Ortolan,” a piano-driven tune that communicates spiritual inspiration.”Kanda Teenage Honey” is a fascinating fusion of avant-garde, folk, and neo-classical music. The main attraction of the album is the appealing voice of Hudson, which acts as a unifying factor among the many musical worlds. This is an album that demands careful listening, drawing listeners into a universe where each song develops like a chapter in a complex and emotional musical story.

Photo Credit: photo by Carl Solomon