TD Lind - The Outskirts Of Prosper

The Outskirts Of Prosper marks that all important third album for English singer-songwriter TD Lind, and while it might sound like a saloon from an old Western movie, it’s in fact a collection of very tastefully done tunes. Chilled out to the extreme and sublimely natural, the twelve tracks here see Lind singing strait from the soul, a man who’s experiences are there to share with everyone.

The line ‘some bathe in gold’ from Goodnight From Hollywood sets up some of the themes the album seeks out to explore, rooting through the gloss and shine of Los Angeles to uncover the beating heart that lies beneath that flawless veneer. There’s strong overtones of Bob Dylan throughout, providing a good solid grounding for the record. This is contemporary rock, but it bears the legacy of those who came before Lind proudly.

Now, English Lind might be, but this is an album that speaks with the sound of the world at wide. Pushover Boy Blues has a cheery Parisian vigour to it – you can almost imagine yourself sitting in a breezy French cafe sipping a coffee while flicking through the newspaper.

Meanwhile, It’s Lovely brings to mind Paolo Nutini recent material – it’s not quite the out and out rollick that Pencil Full of Lead was, but it’s getting on for that. Lind’s skill is he can adapt his voice, one moment he’s the strong man of rock, the next a playful, sauvé crooner – and tracks like It’s Lovely stand at the forefront of that versatility.

When Lind steps back from the mic and lets the guitar take centre stage, there are some glorious 50s riffs here too. Suddenly you’re back in some chrome edged American diner, Lind’s music trickling through on the radio while pretty girls drink coke and cheeky lads drive past in their new cars.

Oh, and did I mention that Stephen Fry is a fan? Speaking about Lind, he had this praise to share “Simply in awe. It was as if Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Johnny Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry, Mark Knopfler, Ry Cooder and God all got together …. wonderful”

Now, we don’t know what God sounds like, but we imagine he’s Rather Good. So the fact TD Lind sounds like God bodes very well indeed.

The Outskirts of Prosper is available to download now.

Kevin Rutkiewicz - Time On Tick

Recently it seems to be the ladies doing all the dominating of the charts these days, the male singer-songwriters taking a bit of a backstep compared to three or four years ago. But perhaps Kevin Rutkiewicz can even up the scales again with his new single Time On Tick. Hailing from Glasgow, Kevin's Scottish lilt and gentle acoustic melodies will draw obvious comparisons with Paolo Nutini, and it's a fair shout. To a degree anyway, since Paolo's fairly straight debut These Streets, he went on to delve down a fair more quirky, experimental avenue on his second LP Sunny Side Up.

Kevin's single is firmly in the camp of the former album; a big, strong, easy-on-the-ears slice of gentle acoustic balladry that'd give James Morrison a run for his money. The song slowly builds up to an emotional crescendo, piano chords driving away with the guitar to provide a hefty foundation for Kevin's soulful vocals. Having played professional football for twelve years for Aberdeen and Dunfermline, he knows a thing or two about dedication and application of talent - and now having turned those skills to music, Time On Tick represents a highly pleasing listen.

Time On Tick is released on the 6th June.