Rowan Flack’s much-anticipated EP Nap on the Sofa has now arrived, a carefully detailed jazz collection that looks into the small, private moments of everyday life and transforms their simplistic beauty into a wonderful sonic portrait. The London-based songwriter easily sways between her jazz roots, but draws in the occasional folk element for a calming finesse.
To create this elegant package, Rowan has brought onboard musicians from London, Bristol and Ireland. Credits for keys go to Rob Dimbleby, drums, Andrew McCoubrey, Celeste Cantor-Stephens on trumpet, and Jack Lecomber on bass.
The headline is the title track, the only number unheard in any form before the release. It begins with an easy-going atmosphere, the piano at the foundations and the trumpet adding shimmer. Once the lead vocal enters softly, we get a vision of nostalgic jazz soundscapes with a controlled and raw performance at the centre as instrumentation dances around. It progresses into more flourishes and spins before rounding out with an extremely satisfying final chord.
Also, there is the teaser single ‘Make Me Whole’, drawing out more of those European and folk elements, and a revised version of ‘Tipsy’, a highlight from previous EP Forest Fires, which sheds some of its repeating grooves in favour of a slew of improvisation from our band members. Both are fantastic at building the world set out with the Nap on the Sofa mentality.
In Rowan’s words, “It’s inspired by the gentle rhythm of a long-term relationship. It’s playful and a little self-mocking… I love how the band interacts on this project – it feels very conversational in this live setting. I wanted to capture the songs as close to how we play them live.”
Flack’s path has taken her BRIT School and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, as well as further study at Norway’s Edvard Grieg Academy. Her style now slips comfortably between tradition and experimentation, with a broad knowledge that has earned her slots on One Jazz and BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction, Music Planet and Unclassified. Though portraying itself as understated and meditating on the small moments, Nap on the Sofa is a showcase of talent from a fantastic artist.
Check it out here…
