Tensheds - The Dandy Punk Prince

by Lisa Torem

published: 25 / 11 / 2015

Label: Tensheds
Format: CD

Fantastic album from unique-voiced and vibrant singer-songwriter Tensheds who provides on it a variety of moods and themes

Review

After you figure out where to place him from amongst a slew of engaging songwriters such as Mark Cohn, Tom Waits and early Billy Joel, you’ll settle in and inhale his genius. Tensheds was originally the name of this British multi-instrumentalist’s band (he plays guitar, piano and blues harp), but when his mates went abroad, Matt Millership absconded with the moniker himself. His debut was ‘Clockwork’ and he has received the UK unsigned award and can be found playing dozens of festivals and venues. For this album, he bee-hived himself away in the Leicester Theatre for a week with a grand piano. When you hear his unique voice, you won’t forget it. It’s full of gravel, Jim Beam, disappointment and hopefulness. How he achieves this quality in a single breath, though, is the real miracle. His piano style is unpredictable: steady and pea-soup thick on ‘Milkman’ but precise and heavenly melodic on ‘Ice Cream Jesus’, where a light percussion sets up the second half. You’ll be treated to a midsong interlude here when, as usual, you least expect it. His wickedly original rhythms go hog wild on the lush ‘Home’ and there is outstanding structure built into ‘Framed for Glory’. On ‘Doghouse,’ the accompaniment takes a back seat to his sharp vocals. Essentially, Tensheds will entertain you with a potpourri, which includes classical stylings, rampant blues runs, or choppy one-fingered riffs that bring to mind Chico Marx. But Tensheds' choice of themes will also take your breath away. ‘War’ begins with a Tinkerbell-type melody and celestial echoes that contradict the one-word, directness of the title. ‘Sexshaker’ shines with his devilish blues harp, which wraps around freewheeling vocals and an endearing jackhammer beat. ‘Shooting Myself’ melds classical with a Flamenco-funk infusion as he laments: “I’m falling apart without you/I’m falling apart at the seams.” If you need to reflect, ‘Fabric of Time’ is psalm-like, allowing you to separate from your troubles during its expanse. There’s even some ‘Powder Blue Leather Pinned Mohair Noose’ jazz thrown in for good measure. ‘Exile’ is another fascinating and divinely crafted track, marked by roller coaster transitions. Tensheds deserves a serious listen. He’s a sincere, confident artist, whose gift for expressing intimate thoughts, is remarkable. You may love him or be offended by his frankness, but you can’t possibly forget him.

Track Listing:-

1 Shooting Myself
2 Framed for Glory
3 Sexshaker
4 Milktrain
5 Fabric of Time
6 War
7 Home
8 Doghouse
9 Powder Blue Leather Pinned Mohair Noose
10 Search Out My Soul
11 Exile
12 Ice Cream Jesus