kieron smart - the space between

Kieron Smart

The Space Between
Go Forth Records; 2013

3.9 out of 5

Kieron Smart is from Dundee in Scotland, and has been playing his guitar around the bars of the city of Dundee for the last 10 years. Playing covers for all these years was starting to become repetitive, so Smart started writing his own songs, which brought his love for music back. After a spell at college learning audio engineering he decided to use the skills and tricks of the trade to record his own material. His first EP The Space Between is an acoustic-based guitar-driven album inspired by everything from the early Beatles to modern Coldplay. The EP shows off his distinctive voice and great use of melody making. This a great start of what is hopefully the first of many records to come. Not unlike Coldplay or Wilco, Smart has a knack for songwriting and it doesn’t hurt that the EP shines cause of the pristine production

The album kicks things off with “Stepping stone” which has an infectious vocal melody as well as some great guitar work. The song is simple but the songwriting is so good! Every part is meticulously placed and properly executed. The next song “Daydream Holiday” is just as sharp as the opener. This one being a little bit more somber at least until the chorus kicks in and really starts to soar.  La-las and crashing drums make a great chorus that could easily be something you hear on the radio. “The Space Between” which in my opinion is another hit continues to excel with excellent songwriting, meaningful lyrics that are nostalgic yet optimistic at the same time. The EP closes with “New York” which maybe the best song of the five. Overall, this is an excellently crafted and polished EP that displays that Kieron Smart is a proficient songwriter who is skilled beyond his years.

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