Newton Faulkner has never been one to sit still, but Octopus might just be his boldest reinvention yet. After a long break from recording which included the symbolic moment of cutting off his iconic dreadlocks live on stage (which also raised funds for Teenage Cancer Trust), Faulkner has returned with an album that feels like a reset button smashed with intent. Where many (myself included) might have expected stripped-back acoustic ballads, Octopus instead bursts with electricity, funk grooves, gospel leanings, and unexpected collaborations. It’s a project that makes a statement straight away. The past is behind him, and he’s diving into uncharted waters.
The opener Alright, Alright, Alright (featuring Bloom Twins) pushes you headfirst into his new sound. This track is full of distorted swagger, rapid-fire energy, and moments that snap between spoken chants and big funk-drenched choruses. It’s a lot to take in on first listen, but that’s kind of the point. Faulkner is keeping you guessing, and in many ways, the chaos prepares you for the ride ahead. Follow-up What Took You So Long pushes that same restless spirit, busy and layered but with a chorus that feels tailor-made for festival singalongs. This is Faulkner pushing himself into the mainstream without compromising.
It’s not all high-octane. Spirit Meets The Bone slows things down with soulful delivery and just enough electronic shimmer to keep it fresh, while Snakes & Ladders emerges as one of the album’s strongest moments. It begins delicately before opening into a soaring chorus. I found myself circling back to this after I had finished listening to the album. Then there’s Honest To God, where Faulkner strips it back, reflecting on his flaws and maturity with lines like “I’m coming up short and I’m just a shadow of the man I was before”. It’s honest and the kind of song that reminds you why he’s always stood out in the singer-songwriter crowd.
Across the middle stretch, Faulkner juggles styles like he’s trying on different skins and most of them fit. You Make It Look So Easy carries funky basslines and swagger, while Don’t Make Me Beg teases a lift-off it never quite gives, staying subdued in a way that works surprisingly well. Dear Life is a heart-on-sleeve ballad with lines like “I’ll be your superman” that long-time fans will cling to, offering a breather in a record that often races ahead. Then there’s Gravitational, arguably the album’s anthem, shifting gears multiple times in one song and sounding massive enough to dominate his upcoming live shows.
The collaborations shine too. Hunting Season with Lissie and Los Bitchos is playful and punchy, twisting indie rock energy with their unmistakable flair. Meanwhile, Faulkner still tips his hat to his roots with tracks like Better For You, a slow ballad that could easily sit on his earlier albums, showing he hasn’t abandoned the emotional core beneath the experimentation. Closer Gratitude is a wild curveball. Gospel-infused, powerful, and unlike anything else here. Ending on such an unexpected high feels like Faulkner making sure no one leaves thinking this was a safe record.
In truth, Octopus is the complete opposite of what many were expecting and that’s exactly why it works. It’s unpredictable, restless, and sprawling across genres, yet held together by Faulkner’s undeniable voice and knack for big melodies. Not every risk will land the same way for every listener, but that’s the beauty of it: this is an artist refusing to be pinned down. Reinvention rarely feels this free.
Just like an Octopus has eight legs, this album scores an 8 out of 10
TOUR DATES:
SEPTEMBER
Thu 18 Kingston Banquet Records (8:30pm)
Fri 19 Birmingham HMV Records (5:00pm)
Sat 20 Southampton Vinilo Records (1:00pm)
Sat 20 Brighton Resident Records (6:30pm)
Sun 21 Nottingham Rough Trade Records (6:00pm)
Mon 22 Leeds Vinyl Whistle Records (1:00pm)
Mon 22 Bury Wax & Beans Records (5:00pm)
Tue 23 Liverpool Jacaranda Records (6:00pm)
Wed 24 Bristol Rough Trade Records (6:30pm)
Thu 25 London Rough Trade East Records (7:00pm)
Fri 26 Marlborough Sound Knowledge Records @ St Peter’s Church (7:30pm)
OCTOBER
Sat 11 Isle Of Wight Strings Bar
Mon 13 Norwich Waterfront
Tue 14 Manchester Academy 3
Wed 15 Cardiff Tramshed
Thu 16 Birmingham Academy 2
Sat 18 Exeter Lemon Grove
Sun 19 Bath Komedia
Mon 20 Cambridge Junction
Wed 22 Leeds Project House
Thu 23 Newcastle Northumbria Student Union
Sat 25 Aberdeen OGV Podium
Sun 26 Glasgow SWG 3
Tue 28 Liverpool Arts Club Theatre
Wed 29 Leicester O2 Academy 2
Thu 30 London Earth Concert Hall
NOVEMBER
Thu 13 Belfast Limelight 1
Fri 14 Portrush Atlantic Sessions
Sat 15 Dublin Ambassador
Sun 16 Cork Cyprus Avenue