Album review of Tommy Scotts “Marionette” by NSG’s David Lancaster.
Album review of Tommy Scotts “Marionette” by NSG’s David Lancaster.
We all fondly remember Space from their heyday in the second half of the 1990s, when they presented us with classics such as Female of The Species, The Ballad of Tom Jones, and Avenging Angels. The band was a little bit quirky, proper scouse and they seemed to live in a completely different Neighbourhood to the so-called Brit-pop bands that were popular at that time.
Tommy Scott, the band’s enigmatic singer, songwriter, and frontman then took part in some side projects, mainly The Drellas, before a triumphant return with Space recently who have released 2 albums in recent years and were also enjoying life on the road before the pandemic came along.
Now though, we have Tommy’s first real solo offering, “Marionette”, by The Thomas Scott Quintette.
This is an album that takes the listener on a delightful musical journey, this album could at times be a soundtrack to a Bond movie or a spaghetti western or a David Lynch film if those movies were ever to be set in Liverpool of course.
One of the first things that grab me about this album is the fantastic orchestration and arranging, this was all done by Tommy’s long term friend and collaborator from Space, Phil Hartley, who also produced and mixed the album.
However, this album sounds different from any Space offering, these tracks are more ” songy” and fit into the verse, chorus, verse type of writing that Tommy describes as ” Dark acoustic campfire” songs.
It certainly is a very strong offering with another of Tommy’s long-time mates Paul Hemmings helping him out on songwriting duties, with Chris Sharrock also sitting behind the kit, who Tommy describes as caressing the skins the way an artist puts paint onto a canvas.
The second thing that grabs me is just how strong and developed Tommy’s voice is here, he really is on top form.
So about the songs. The album starts off dark and at times it really does take us on an interesting journey to other worlds. Standouts on S1 are “Whilst She Smokes Oblivious”, which is maybe the track most accessible to Space fans, “Crowded World “, which is the first song on the album to feature a co-vocalist, Kate Milner here, and “Devilish Kiss”, lyrically brilliant and again a song that could be found as part of a movie soundtrack, maybe a Hammer Horror movie this time.
Into S2 now and “Ghosts of New Orleans” really takes us to the Mardi Gras, where you can actually hear the trumpets and taste the bourbon.
“God Made Me Ugly ” is the real fun song on this album, a song that will live well in the live arenas and it really does have a Lennon solo vibe to it, think “Whatever Gets You Thru The Night “, you can certainly dance to this song.
Finally, the album closes with the jewel in the crown that is “Treasure Chest”, this is the second song where Tommy uses a guest singer, this time Emily Portman shares the mic.
A sad but beautiful song, a song about someone giving their all. Tommy has mentioned that Transformer by Lou Reed was a bit of an influence on him with this album and I can feel it on this tune, for me this is the real standout track on the album and closes it leaving me wanting more, it’s a beautiful song indeed.
Special mention here has to go to Nick Graff and Pete Wilky, Tommy says without these guys the album probably wouldn’t have happened so we are certainly glad that it did happen.
It’s difficult to fit this album into a genre or pigeonhole it, but we don’t need to do that, it’s just a really well crafted and very interesting collection of songs. Tommy’s writing has always had a bit of a cinematic feel about it, but on this album, I think it really is more evident.
Everybody can enjoy “Marionette”, not just Space fans or Tommy Scott fans, but anyway, everybody give this gem of an album a listen, I’m looking forward to a follow-up, please Tommy.
The Album was released yesterday the 22nd of November 2020
Marionette’ is the debut solo album by Tommy Scott -lead singer of the chart topping band ‘Space’ (whose hits include: Female of theSpecies, Neighbourhood & Avenging Angels)
Aided by Paul Hemmings on guitar/production (The La’s/Lightning Seeds), Phil Hartley Bass/Production, Chris Sharrock on Drums (Oasis, Robbie Williams, Noel Gallagher) and featuring award winning Folk artist Emily Portman singing the spell binding ‘Treasure Chest’
Tommy describes ‘Marionette’ as ‘dark acoustic camp fire songs’: and they are undoubtedly
strange and beguiling at times- exposing that haunting melancholia that resides deep in the heart
of his writing- but in the most cheeky and irreverent way! Its taken some time for the release of his first solo outing but it will no doubt stand the test of time and thrill and chill in equal measures.
TRACKLISTING
1) Shadowland
2) Whilst She Smokes Oblivious
3) Crowded World
4) Marionette
5) Devilish kiss
6) Bizarre Rituals of a Girl Called Nightingale
7) End of the World
8) Ghost of New Orleans
9) God Made Me Ugly
10) Treasure Chest
You can order you copy from
http://www.thomas-scott-quintet.aviator-music.co.uk/
Follow Tommy on the social links highlighted in pink below.
