It’s with huge sadness that we learned today that Nick Talbot, the man behind Gravenhurst, one of the Quietus’ favourite recording artists, a contributor to the site and a long-standing friend has passed away.
In a statement, his label Warp Records said: "We are shocked and saddened to share the news that Nick Talbot aka Gravenhurst has passed away aged 37. An immensely talented singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and journalist, he will be hugely missed. Nick’s family and friends request privacy at this difficult time."
Michelle Hilborne, his manager, said: "I am utterly devastated to confirm that Nick Talbot, also known under the performing name Gravenhurst, has passed away aged 37. The finest, most extraordinary and inspirational songwriter, singer and performer, and a remarkable producer and journalist, Nick’s work has deeply affected so many people all over the world. Outstandingly intelligent, compassionate, fascinating and witty, Nick was the dearest friend and his absence brings indescribable sorrow."
Nick started Gravenhurst following the dissolution of his former band, Assembly Communications, releasing his debut album Internal Travels, in 2002. This was followed by Flashlight Seasons the year after, which led to him being signed to Warp, who both reissued Flashlight, and put out a mini-album, Black Holes In The Sand, in 2004. Nick released three further albums, Fires In Distant Buildings in 2005, The Western Lands in 2007 and The Ghost In Daylight in 2012. Reviewing the latter, the Quietus’ editor John Doran described it as "audio waters containing complex depths worth diving into, revisiting, pondering over, dwelling over, dwelling in".
At the same as releasing music and running his label Silent Age, he also became a valued writer for the Quietus, contributing numerous articles, among them interviews with John Gray, Alan Moore and The Young Knives. He also spoke to John as part of an interview with Heterotic’s Lara Rix-Martin and Mike Paradinas, with whom he performed at a tQ-run gig at Cafe OTO last December.
Talking to Pavel Godfrey in an expansive interview around the release of The Ghost In Daylight, he addressed what Pavel saw as a pagan element within his music: "It’s not a word I’d thought of before, re-enchantment, but yeah. There is that, definitely. It’s almost like a kind of answer to these religious and political struggles. I can’t accept religion, but I can accept a kind of mysticism, a kind of transcendence. Because for me, music and art are non-material, transcendent things."
John says: "I’m absolutely devastated at the loss of my dear friend Nick. He was one of the cleverest, funniest and warmest people I ever met. Everyone at the Quietus would like to pass on our most sincere condolences to his friends, family and colleagues in the music industry."
Photograph courtesy of Maria Jefferis for shot2bits.net
Warp recently reissued Flashlight Seasons and Black Holes In The Sand, along with an unheard material compilation, Offerings. Listen to that, along with Flashlight Seasons, The Ghost In Daylight, The Western Lands and Fires In Distant Buildings, and watch the documentary he recently made about his hometown of Bristol, below. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends and we will be publishing an obituary for Nick in the coming days.
