Tom Mitchell

EP

Tom Mitchell is the latest in a long line of acoustic performers to emerge from the flourishing North East music scene and this eponymous 5-track EP serves up a taster of fine things to come.

Twenty three year old Tom plays every instrument on these recordings, 6 and 12 string acoustic guitars, bass guitar, harmonica and piano. Four of the tracks here are cover versions and his choice of material and musical influence is key, placing him firmly in solo singer/songwriter territory and in fine company - Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Alan Hull and Nick Drake.

Save Yourself, his choice of Hull-song is interesting, as Hully was not only a local hero, but probably a frequent visitor to the Mitchell household and Tom has wisely picked this ballad from the more obscure corners of the Hull repertoire. Likewise, Country Road is not the most obvious choice of James Taylor song, but both this and Jackson Browne’s I’m Alive feel extremely comfortable in Tom’s hands and suit his vocal range. Conversely, Northern Sky may be one of the better known Nick Drake compositions, but Tom’s arrangement sensibly moves away from the original and his use of harmonica makes for an unusual instrumental break within this classic song.

In case the combination of Mitchell and North East set you wondering - yes, Tom is the son of former Jack the Lad and Lindisfarne frontman Billy. I know that Tom is keen to forge a career on his own merits and he will achieve that without any problem, but the influences are bound to be there - and let’s face it, leaning on their mother’s piano never did Rufus or Martha Wainwright any harm!

The arrangements are deliberately sparse and are a good indication of Tom’s live show, while the overall effect is an extremely assured performance and makes for a satisfying debut. The final track, Convenience, is one of Tom’s own compositions and this passionate guitar and piano ballad sits happily alongside the more illustrious names. An album is in the pipeline and will provide a better guide to his songwriting credentials, but until then, this EP is a solid start to a promising career.

Chris Groom