Eye to the Telescope

If the art of the female singer-songwriter revolves around coffee table soliloquies then Eye To The Telescope--the debut album from Edinburgh-born chanteuse / guitarist KT Tunstall--is a pleasing mediation between the traditional demands of brooding egocentricity (espresso) and frothy commerciality (cappuccino). KT Tunstall has star quality. "Suddenly I See" is an effortlessly liberating pop fillip while, conversely, "False Alarm" redresses Abba's "The Winner Takes It All" for losers who had nothing to lose to begin with. However, Tunstall isn't entirely convinced by the compromise ( "I'm struggling to cater for the space I'm meant to fill" she sings) and "Miniature Disasters"--one of several strong numbers showcasing her aptitude for wrapping up pop tunes in either folky bluesiness or ponderous jazz--catalogues her desires for unfettered self-expression. The opening cut "Other Side Of The World" might sound like Dido without the giftwrapped grief (she's none too flattered with the comparisons) but Eye To The Telescope is spiritually closer to Carol King and Elvis Costello than Katie Melua. And that's no bad thing. --Kevin Maidment

KT Tunstall intrigued me even before I heard her delightful debut album for the first time. She has Chinese heritage, but was brought up in the Scottish town of St. Andrews. There's deliciously crisp Scottish lilt to her speaking voice, which is sadly lost when she sings.

When I do finally listen to the opening tracks of Eye To The Telescope I encounter gentle melodies, unpretentious guitar motifs and softly sung vocals. It's not until the fourth track, "Suddenly I See", that the mood changes. The music is more uptempo than previous tracks; a tambourine and KT's rasping vocals add urgency and get the feet tapping.

The mood swings back again in "Silent Sea", my favourite track on the album. The now familiar simple acoustic guitar rhythms are present, but here KT's magical vocals take centre stage. The beautiful rise and fall of her voice mirrors the powerful waves she describes in the song. She sounds like she's really enjoying herself, as if released from a producer's strict direction. Her voice here reminds me of another superb songstress, Raissa, who had limited success in the late 90s.

The more electro sounding "Universe and U" brings forth Gemma Hayes to mind, while "Heal Over" recalls Sia's (Zero 7) 2004 solo effort. Herein lies the problem with KT Tunstall, her voice brings forth comparisons a plenty; Dido, Joss Stone, Nelly Furtado, Natasha Bedingfield to name a few. But all to frequently she's not distinctive enough to stand out from the crowd. The lack of vocal variation causes fatigue after a while.

This album is extremely frustrating. Some of it is magical and inspiring while other tracks such as "Under The Weather" and "Through The Dark" wash over rather than engage. However, promising signs of a new found confidence and willingness to take risks are apparent on the wonderfully joyous bonus track, "Black Horse & The Cherry Tree", which was recorded live for Later...with Jools Holland. I'm sure that if she continues to take more risks and explore her full vocal range she'll mature as very successful and special artist. --Dan Tallis

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Eye To The Telescope is the debut album from acclaimed Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall. Born in Edinburgh and brought up in St Andrews, KT comes out of a burgeoning East Coast music scene that has already spawned the likes of The Fence Collective, The Beta Band and Dogs Die In Hot Cars. The album was produced by Steve Osborne (U2/New Order/Doves) and celebrates classic singer-songwriting in the tradition of Rikki Lee Jones, Carole King and Fleetwood Mac with songs that manage to be both intensely personal and incredibly accessible.

Relentless Records, CDRELX06 0724386024626, 2005 12 Track