A well-produced track to showcase Murphy's musical versatility and perfectly continue his transition into the post-Chet Faker era.
‘Stop Me (Stop You),’ the latest single from Australian singer-songwriter Nick Murphy, is the second release under his real name and symbolises a new era in his musical career, evolving from the electro-soul sound of Built On Glass, his 2014 debut album as Chet Faker. Lasting over eight minutes in original form, it comprises two distinct sections. The first is a stylistic blend of indie rock and electronica, with synthesisers creating a psychedelic ambience whilst the percussion provides high energy classic rock inflections to the instrumentation. This energy is also reflected by the highlighting of Murphy’s strong tenor range and rustic vocal tone, as demonstrated on the chorus (“You can’t stop me / I made it this far”).
Just over five minutes in, that energy is replaced by a simple piano melody. From here to the track’s completion, Murphy’s tone, vocal phrasing, and production are reminiscent more of James Blake’s work, often sounding like a direct conversation between the artist and the listener with the lyrics’ subject changing from “me” to “you.” This use of two variations within one track works well for Murphy, allowing him to showcase his versatility and, in its entirety, serve as a wide introduction to his art.
‘Stop Me (Stop You)’ is out now via Future Classic
