When I reviewed Natalie Walker's work before, she was the singer of a melancholy, triphop-influenced band called Daughter Darling. There was something about Daughter Darling that drew me in, as it did anyone who listened to them. That review stated "if you don't hear more about this band, I'll be surprised," so it's a bit ironic the same thing that drew listeners to Daughter Darling, and led me to believe you should be hearing more about them, is the same thing that is catching ears with Natalie's solo work; her voice.

1. Urban Angel
2. Rest Easy
3. No One Else
4. Faith
5. Waking Dream
6. Circles
7. Quicksand
8. Right Here
9. Red
10. Color Blind
11. Not The End
12. Sanckens Doll

The songs on Urban Angel, once mentioned as being the title of the next Daughter Darling album, are marked by sweet, soaring melodies, deep emotions, and delicate tones. Natalie Walker's voice has a rich, breathy quality that floats from unaffected and simple to multi-layered and echoed, reciting lyrics that are equally rich and raw in emotion, touching naturally on love and the loss of it, but also on finding oneself.

"No One Else" was an excellent choice for the first single as it truly captures the style of and what this album is all about (you can download it here). The first time I heard Natalie Walker sing "Color Blind", a song written by the Black Crowes, was in a video for Daughter Darling and it was as striking then as now, although the version here has more developed instrumentation and vocals. If you haven't seen the video, seek it out.

Without exactly trying to, Natalie's voice exudes that utterly sensual and altogether folky brand of sultry captured by Sarah McLachlan.

Urban Angel is an album whose beauty is seldom paralleled. Melancholy, bright, and emotional, it explores the duality of emotions; delicate but powerful, seductive but shy, pained though full of hope.

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