Comes with a Smile # webexclusives


Ian Britt | One Day I... (Jalapeno)
Britt's biography is short and to the point. "Boy meets guitar. Learns guitar. Writes impressive songs. Gets discovered. Conquers the world." And, if there is any justice, that is precisely what should happen. For Britt has recorded an album that is every bit as essential as Damien Rice's 'O' while sounding totally different [let's be thankful for that. And if Damien Rice ever becomes essential listening, I'll be needing an ambulance - Ed]. Entering the male singer-songwriter arena isn't going to be easy, however talented you are. People like Rice and Ed Harcourt have raised the bar and it's not enough to strum a guitar and tell the world how much your heart bleeds over your lost love. Not that Britt does much bleeding. He's too tough for that. His songs have a power and muscularity that makes you think this is a group recording; 'One Day I...' has a cohesion and identity.
Sheffield-born, Manchester-raised Britt's voice is straight out of the classic rock singer school - bluesy, yet melodic and in places reminiscent of Paul Rodgers. Indeed, Britt acknowledges his debt to sixties power trios and to his drummer dad's vast record collection. The results can be heard on this immensely satisfying debut. Britt might admit a fondness for Cream and Hendrix, but there are no guitar pyrotechnics here, no heavy grandstanding, just a bunch of solid songs - each one featuring imm-aculate playing, breezy choruses, solid hook-lines and no little star quality. An honest-to-goodness slab of Britt rock.

John Stacey
October 2005