Sometimes they just slip by…

I’d never heard of this fella before today, but Tom Baxter is a British singer-songwriter who has just re- released his second album – titled ‘Skybound’, after a short run release in June 2007.

It opens with ‘A night like this’, which had me thinking of the Jamie Cullums of this world – double-bass driven and slightly jazzy in places, I nearly hit the off button and went back to something else, but there was something in that voice that made me listen on. I’m glad I did.

The following tracks are a different thing all together, the title track is nicely built around a really quick rhythm track – gently picked guitars and subtle strings with a gentle piano building up to a great crescendo. ‘Better’ is definite single material, and ‘Tell her Today’ is full of almost flamenco guitar, which gives it a real urgence. ‘Last Shot’ is excellent with more subtle strings and pianos, and ‘Icarus Wings’ is pretty special too.

It’s a very gentle album – there’s nothing here to set the hip kids alight, but this will find a comfortable slot in a lot of peoples CD collection, well written, relaxing and well crafted.