Album Review: Luke Sital-Singh – ‘Tornadoes’

Luke-Sital-Singh-Tornadoes-EP-300x300

In an age where music is plagued by over-production, 808s and dwindling sincerity, Luke Sital-Singh provides an oasis of calm for the British music scene. His third release, ÔÇÿTornados EPÔÇÖ, is chilling and inspiring; a mellifluous soundtrack to a crisp November stroll, perhaps. With previous recognition from The Guardian heralding the 25-year-old as a potential ÔÇ£British Bon IverÔÇØ, his latest four-track offering could indeed propel him to heights just as worthy.

With a rich, fuller sound than his other works, Sital-Singh escapes the parameters often associated with an acoustic artist. Allowing drums to pulsate and layered vocals to swirl, the record immerses you with ÔÇÿHow To Lose A LifeÔÇÖ building up to a towering, festival-sing-along denouement. The troubadourÔÇÖs endearing quality is not lost either, with his vulnerability and charm fully retained in the EPÔÇÖs quieter moments, ÔÇÿNearly MorningÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿTornado TownÔÇÖ.

However, the unequivocal triumph on ÔÇÿTornados EPÔÇÖ is found in ÔÇÿNothing Stays The SameÔÇÖ. While support from BBC Radio 1 is bringing the song to the ears of many, the lyrics manifest Sital-SinghÔÇÖs impassioned voice and enraptured soul; ÔÇ£get your heart poundedÔÇØ follows ÔÇ£we all hurt, we all lieÔÇØ. Escalating from melody to choral cries, Ben Howard, Frank Turner and Daughter all spring to mind.

Overall, ÔÇÿTornados EPÔÇÖ manages to excite and stir, while nuances intelligently connect all four songs together as a true body of work. The motif of time is explored by Sital-Singh; he of course repeats that ÔÇ£nothing stays the sameÔÇØ at the EPÔÇÖs outset, yet admits paradoxically that ÔÇ£nothing has changed; weÔÇÖre still the sameÔÇØ in the last song. The spiralling, incessant, natural quality of a ÔÇÿtornadoÔÇÖ could therefore not be more of an appropriate title.

ÔÇÿTornados EPÔÇÖ by Luke Sital-Singh is available now on Parlophone Records.

Louis Browne

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *