SINGLE REVIEW

Southend's premier acoustic minstrel Sam Duckworth returns with another slice of bittersweet angst-folk. Like the ridiculously happy "Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager Pt. 1", this starts with a soft acoustic guitar and some world-weary lyrics - but unlike his previous singles, here the drum machines feel intrusive, stripping his voice, and the song, of its intimacy. Although it's refreshing to see that not every singer-songwriter wants to be a whining James Blunt or David Gray, "I Spy" suffers from being too cluttered. If Get Cape... had the courage to strip back the beats and production - and perhaps find more potent subject matter - he could end up rivalling the likes of Bright Eyes or Elliott Smith as a truly powerful musician.

Ben Duncan

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