Roddy Hart - Sign Language

Roddy Hart’s first album featured Kris Kristofferson vocals - not bad for a Glaswegian new-start. Three years later, Sign Language eschews grizzled celebrity patronage but doesn’t quite exhibit a clear voice of its own, with too many similarities to other performers haunting its tracks. The closing Mercy Boat bears a strong resemblance to Josh Ritter, while (You Don’t Know) What You Do To Me recalls Bon Jovi’s bombastic balladry with a touch of Stereophonics - and not the early-guilty-pleasure-secretly-alright kind of Stereophonics either. Several track reverse into Grand Drive territory, but unfortunately Hart lacks the London-based Aussie's lyrical nous: Map of Your Heart’s central metaphor is overly-familiar, while The Wilderness (“have you ever seen the moon shine so bright?”) is awkwardly mawkish. But his sincerity just about sells it, and intermittently Hart shines: Dead of the Night’s passionate chorus, replete with xylophone chimes and handclaps, proves Roddy and the Lonesome Fire a sporadically exciting proposition.