Over these last few years, it feels as though the resurgence of folk-inspired songwriting has often leaned heavily on nostalgia. Plenty of artists have borrowed the aesthetics of the seventies, but few have managed to capture the emotional honesty that made those records so enduring in the first place. But on his new LP ‘Hollyhocks’, Henry Nielsen achieves exactly that.
Following the promise of ‘Business Partner’, the North London songwriter returns with a debut album that feels remarkably self-assured. Similar to the way Jake Bugg’s early work transformed everyday observations into something universal, Nielsen possesses an uncanny ability to inhabit the lives of his characters without ever reducing them to simple archetypes.
From the opening moments of ‘Beginning Of The End’, there is a sense that ‘Hollyhocks’ is fascinated by people who exist slightly outside the centre of things. The songs are populated by dreamers, drifters, romantics and isolated figures, all navigating their own private disappointments and small victories.
The title-track is particularly striking. Built around understated instrumentation and an intimate atmosphere, it examines departure and absence with a tenderness that lingers long after the song ends. Elsewhere, ‘Little Grey Lies’ drifts through uncertainty and self-deception, balancing jangling guitars against a growing sense of psychological unease.
But what elevates ‘Hollyhocks’ beyond simple storytelling is his gift for emotional nuance. ‘Soft As Wool’ could easily have become a bleak character sketch, yet he approaches its protagonist with empathy. Likewise, ‘Lonesome Life’ explores solitude as something far more complicated.
Musically, the album feels wonderfully organic. Lap steel, organ, acoustic guitars and subtle rhythmic touches create a rich analogue warmth that recalls classic singer-songwriters without sounding trapped by the past. Nielsen and his collaborators allow the songs plenty of room to breathe, giving each narrative space to fully unfold.
The closing stretch, particularly ‘Dream Of You’, leaves a lasting impression. There’s a weary beauty running through the performance, as if he understands that some people spend their entire lives searching for something they can never quite reach.
Warm, thoughtful, and beautifully crafted throughout, ‘Hollyhocks’ introduces Henry Nielsen as one of the most compelling new voices emerging from the UK folk-rock landscape.
Stream in full here.
