Guy Blackman’s debut solo album Adult Baby is the result of almost three years of steadfast toil - and it sounds like it. Lush strings, dynamic horns and shimmering vibes complement Guy’s emotional songwriting, and a host of special guests queue up to lend a hand.
Beginning in 2005 with Melbourne-based American producer Casey Rice (Tortoise, Ben Lee, Liz Phair) at the helm, recording progressed slowly but surely, involving at least five studios and more than 20 supporting musicians. Besides the steamy duet with Swedish pop star Jens Lekman (Dark And Quiet Place) and a fragile girl group vocal from The Art Of Fighting’s Peggy Frew (Johnny) you’ll also hear cameos from members of the Dirty Three, The Crayon Fields, Pikelet, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Ground Components, Fabulous Diamonds and many more.
This is Guy’s first solo effort, but certainly not his musical debut. As the driving force behind Chapter Music, one of Australia’s best-regarded independent labels, he has amassed a large, free-ranging catalogue of artists from places as far-flung as Tokyo, New Haven or Gothenburg. But conflicted about releasing his own album on Chapter, Guy sought out a like-minded independent label and found a friendly home here with Unstable Ape.
Guy also served in fondly-remembered Melbourne groups Sleepy Township and Minimum Chips, who both released records on labels all over the world. But since returning to Melbourne in 2004 after a life-changing 18 months in Japan, Guy has focused on his intricate and melody-rich work as a solo artist.
These days, he presents himself as a balladeer, playing deftly constructed songs on piano and guitar that deal frankly with issues of love, sexuality and commitment. He describes his music, tongue-in-cheek, as “Adult-Oriented D.I.Y.”, and his songs evoke comparisons to Brian Wilson, Tim Hardin, Serge Gainsbourg and The Left Banke. Honesty, emotion and personal revelation are the focal points of his work, although none come at the expense of melody or songcraft.
In Australia, he has shared stages with a host of international names such as Vashti Bunyan, Joanna Newsom, Bill Callahan, Jens Lekman, Calvin Johnson, Mt Eerie, The Blow, Karl Blau, Josephine Foster and Dear Nora, while his former bands supported Cat Power, Stereolab and Elliott Smith, amongst others. Elsewhere, Guy has played festivals from Arhus, Denmark to Anacortes, Washington, braved the icy streets of Sapporo, Japan and the elegant, former Communist ruins of East Berlin.
After years as a musician and label boss, Guy Blackman’s career is beginning all over again -as a solo artist.