KT Tunstall
Eye To The Telescope
Virgin/EMI



Scottish singer-songwriter Tunstall delivers a richly layered masterpiece that repays repeated listening. Her arresting imagery is elemental, concerned with travelling and water: "She's waiting like an iceberg, waiting to change," from opening track Other Side Of The World. This begins in a delicate manner reminiscent of Coldplay, then slowly builds to a passionate, panicked climax as "The fire fades away." Her vocals vary from Sheryl Crow-like playful teasing on the folky Under The Weather, to aggressive blues shouting reminiscent of Jack White on Black Horse And The Cherry Tree, an insanely catchy combination of hand-claps, skiffle beats and energetic stomping that ends much too quickly.

Syncopated Another Place To Fall begins with challenging off-beat rhythms reminiscent of Portishead, then expands into a rocking chorus reaching out to a friend "Remaining in permanent crisis." On Silent Sea, questioning the safety of a future cut loose from a harbour, Tunstall's elaborate guitar picking skilfully produces the feeling of waves. The lighters-in-the-air torch song Universe And U is possibly the standout track from this album and the one it would be most exciting to hear live, with Tunstall's powerful voice soaring up into space to create a moving anthem.

Suddenly I See, perhaps the first song ever about the effect of a supermodel in the room, is a funky sing-along track to dance around the kitchen to, while Stoppin' The Love is a slow, bluesy reflection with a lazy southern vibe, backed with a chorus of bass voices as lush as a 1950s Disney film soundtrack.

'Eye To The Telescope' comes with a bonus live track, Immune, and ten videos on a bonus DVD. Anyone who enjoys the diverse sounds of Fiona Apple, Tori Amos or Nelly Furtado should check out their clear successor, KT Tunstall.

Rosie Clarke