Freddie Stevenson: Body On The Line

• Released: June 2006
• Rating: 6/10

There’s something rather unnerving about an actor to turns ‘tunesmith’.

Not quite sure what it is, but I kind of feel uncomfortable about thecrossover. This cannot be levelled at 26 year-old Scottish singer-songwriterFreddie Stevenson.

Swapping a blossoming acting career, he’s switched code in an effort to makethe big time. Time will tell if he has the credibility for the long-run, butBody On The Line is a very promising start.

Getting the music bug from hearing cowboys singing country songs around acamp fire in Wyoming with his American mother Jocelyn, he learnt to play theguitar aged 11 years. A big fan of Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell,Paul Simon, Freddie has made a good start to his embryonic new career move.

His repertoire is in the Paul Simon – Nick Drake mould, with great emphasison melody: best examples of Simon’s influence is My Fingers Are Piano Keys, Not Real Careful (two of his earliest sings) and St. Catherine’sDay.

On a more upbeat and playful level, he thrives on the hook-laden If YouDon’t Kiss Me, which is perfect Radio 2 fodder, as is a light-heartedand wordy She’s Chinese.

Picking up the pace even further, a Simon-like What’s The Sign For Love?proves he’s not restricted to mere balladeering. In truth Hangdog feels morelike a filler effort, than a serious attempt to impress like other songs.