Sam Ryder: Ain’t nothin’ but space, man! (talker)
Verdict: More than a one-hit wonder
Qualification: ***
Olly Murrs: Marry Me (EMI)
Verdict: Pop loved
Qualification: ***
Leftfield: This is what we do (Virgin)
Verdict: Powerful and moving
Classification: ****
When TikTok sensation Sam Ryder was preparing to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in May, his plan for the big night was simple: “Come out, sing for three minutes and make my country proud.”
When TikTok sensation Sam Ryder was preparing to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in May, his plan for the big night was simple: “Go out there, sing non-stop for three minutes and make my country proud.” “.
His hell-for-leather approach served him well in Turin, with his melodramatic ballad Space Man finishing second behind Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra to give Britain their best result since Imaani’s Where Are You? it also ranked second in 1998.
Ryder, 33, from Essex, made the most of the Eurovision opportunity and his flowing locks and wide grin have been hard to ignore since spring.
He played at The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, sang with Foo Fighters and Queen during the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert at Wembley and is set to host BBC1’s New Year’s Eve party. Having paid his dues as a wedding singer, he’s not going to let his great opportunity slip away.
He brings the same no-holds-barred approach to his debut album, out today. Squeezing every last ounce of emotion from his 13 original songs, he jumps between big-voiced ballads, acoustic folk and rock. He’s not sure exactly what kind of singer he wants to be, but you have to admire his hurricane force and cheekiness.
Ryder grew up as a fan of Iron Maiden and Eurovision 2006 winners Lordi and opens There’s Nothing But Space, Man! featuring a guitar-driven rock number, deploying a James Blunt-esque falsetto on Deep Blue Doubt, a track that builds from a tender beginning to an homage to 1980s hair metal.
There’s another full-throttle rocker on Tiny Riot, one of three songs co-written with Amy Wadge and Max Wolfgang, the team behind Space Man.
The other track from the same writers, All The Way Over, is a tempestuous ballad that echoes the bombastic thrust of their Eurovision hit.
Blessed with an impressive vocal range, Ryder is nothing if not versatile. His default lyrical stance is one of wide-eyed optimism, seasoned with a touch of self-help psychobabble, and he’s in his element on the soulful number Somebody (“We’ve got a life, let’s make it awesome!”).
There’s another 1980s throwback on More, built around a random beat reminiscent of Tears For Fears’ Everybody Wants To Rule The World.
There are several tracks where the grandiose instrumentation feels overdone: Ten Tons is a decent song awash with a chorus of backing vocalists and a histrionic guitar solo.
And, while Spaceman Sam’s octave-spanning vocal gymnastics is impressive, there are times when you crave a little restraint. That may come as he progresses in his career: unlike many Eurovision hopefuls, Ryder seems destined to be more than a one-hit wonder and he’s certainly giving his best here.
Given that Olly Murs has never completely shaken comparisons to Robbie Williams, the opening line of Best Night Of Your Life, a song from his new album Marry Me, is a bit of a surprise.
Given that Olly Murs has never completely shaken comparisons to Robbie Williams, the opening line of Best Night Of Your Life, a song from his new album Marry Me, is a bit of a surprise. ‘Let me entertain you,’ he sings himself, in a reprise of Robbie’s famous battle cry.
Too much to forge his own identity. Yet Marry Me still shamelessly plays to her own strengths. Her first LP in four years, and her first since leaving RCA for EMI in February, it’s lively and charming.
Packed with three-minute pop gems and a few more dance flavors than previous efforts, it won’t change the face of music, but it should raise a few smiles.
Olly’s engagement to bodybuilder Amelia Tank looms large. In addition to the title track, there’s a fun disco song on I Found Her and another funky ode to his fiancée on Dancing On Cars: “In the form of a melody straight out of the ’70s, look what you’ve done to me, ‘ he sings.
Even as he slips into romantic grief mode, on the Police-style reggae track Die Of A Broken Heart, he can’t help but sound upbeat. A four-year break has done him a lot of good.
Electronic duo Leftfield’s first album in seven years was created under challenging circumstances
The electronic duo Leftfield’s first album in seven years was created under challenging circumstances.
Founder Neil Barnes, now joined by recording engineer Adam Wren, completed it while awaiting surgery for bowel cancer (he’s since been given the go-ahead), and the band’s December tour was postponed so he could continue his Recovery.
Given his health issues, it’s a remarkably upbeat return, with the title track a propulsive hit in the tradition of 1999’s Phat Planet, the song that soundtracked the award-winning “surfers” TV ad for Guinness.
There are also striking cameos from poet Lemn Sissay, reggae star Earl Sixteen and Grian Chatten (of Dublin band Fontaines DC). With two melodic tributes to Kraftwerk in City Of Synths and Machines Like Me, and a beautiful finishing touch in the warm electronica of Power Of Listening, this is an admirably diverse return that captures one of Britain’s most powerful dance acts in the top of his game.
Sam Ryder kicks off a tour on March 17, 2023 at Ulster Hall, Belfast (axs.com). Olly Murs kicks off his tour on April 21, 2023 at OVO Hydro, Glasgow (ticketmaster.co.uk).