Stephen Fretwell - ‘Four Letter Words’ (Fiction Records) - Released 07/05/07

Easy listening singer songwriter Stephen Fretwell releases his first new material in two years with this limited edition EP to support his current ‘intimate’ UK tour. Fretwell is a bit of a marmite artist, for those whose singer/songwriter switch is flicked by the likes of James Morrison, Paolo Nutini or James Blunt you may be disappointed. For others he is revered as a super-talented young Bob Dylan. The relaxed tempo and jazzy influences in ‘The Scheme’ will get your fingers clicking, if you can cope with Fretwell’s sombre gravely rasp over the top. His singing on ‘Sleep’ loses the gravel and takes on a soulful lilt that fulfils on the title and caresses you to sleep. The gentle ‘Can This Be’, and the wonderfully titled ‘William Shatner’s Dog’ rounds off this flight of melancholy fancy.

Fans of Fretwell will love this latest offering of complex and beautiful folk-infused songs. If you’re not a fan and in an emotionally vulnerable state, this might not help!