Track Listing

1. Other Side Of The World
2. Another Place To Fall
3. Under The Weather
4. Black Horse & the Cherry Tree
5. Miniature Disasters
6. Silent Sea
7. Universe & U
8. Suddenly I See
9. Stoppin The Love
10. False Alarm
11. Heal Over
12. Through The Dark

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1781 in Music
• Released on: 2005-01-10
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
If the art of the female singer-songwriter revolves around coffee table soliloquies then Eye To The Telescope--the debut album from Edinburgh-born chanteuse / guitarist KT Tunstall--is a pleasing mediation between the traditional demands of brooding egocentricity (espresso) and frothy commerciality (cappuccino). KT Tunstall has star quality. "Suddenly I See" is an effortlessly liberating pop fillip while, conversely, "False Alarm" redresses Abba's "The Winner Takes It All" for losers who had nothing to lose to begin with. However, Tunstall isn't entirely convinced by the compromise ( "I'm struggling to cater for the space I'm meant to fill" she sings) and "Miniature Disasters"--one of several strong numbers showcasing her aptitude for wrapping up pop tunes in either folky bluesiness or ponderous jazz--catalogues her desires for unfettered self-expression. The opening cut "Other Side Of The World" might sound like Dido without the giftwrapped grief (she's none too flattered with the comparisons) but Eye To The Telescope is spiritually closer to Carol King and Elvis Costello than Katie Melua. And that's no bad thing. --Kevin Maidment

From the Label
Eye To The Telescope is the debut album from acclaimed Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall. Born in Edinburgh and brought up in St Andrews, KT comes out of a burgeoning East Coast music scene that has already spawned the likes of The Fence Collective, The Beta Band and Dogs Die In Hot Cars. The album was produced by Steve Osborne (U2/New Order/Doves) and celebrates classic singer-songwriting in the tradition of Rikki Lee Jones, Carole King and Fleetwood Mac with songs that manage to be both intensely personal and incredibly accessible.

CD Description
Reissue of the debut album from Scottish-born singer songwriter K.T. Tunstall. 'Eye To The Telescope' sees Tunstall deliver her fragile lyrics over soulful, folk tinged songs which have been compared to the work of Carole King. Includes tracks from the 'False Alarm' EP as well as the studio versionof 'Black Horse And The Cherry Tree', which appeared as a live recording on the original version of the album.

Customer Reviews

Eye to the Telescope - KT is a new born star
I first heard KT on Mark Radcliffe's show one evening while driving back from a Moody Blues concert in Bournemouth (I have very eclectic tastes). I instantly took to her music and was really impressed by her obvious talent. This was later confirmed by her performance on Jools Holland, "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree". I pre-ordered her album and haven't stopped playing it since. In a music scene taken up with boy/girl bands and cover versions, it is so refreshing to hear a genuine singer/songwriter for a change.

"Eye to the Telescope" is one of the best albums I have heard in a long time. The "Other Side of the World" is one of those songs that hooks you after a few plays (in a perfect world would be a huge hit). Her vocals are particularly strong in "Another Place to Fall" as the band turns up the volume a notch or two. I found myself singing the chorus at full volume in the car. Her gifted guitar playing is plain to hear in the quieter songs on the album such as "Under the Weather" and "Silent Sea". These songs are exquisite. "False Alarm" is another favourite of mine with its exhausting bitter sweet sentiments of love lost. In contrast, "Suddenly I See" is really uplifting, (I would love to know who its about).

Some people have tried to compare or put KT in the same camp as Jones, Melua & Co, even Bjork (don't follow that one). Yes, she has blues, jazz, folk, rock influences in her music but it is a truly unique sound. KT will go far.

Definitely a contender
This Scottish-raised singer/songwriter of Chinese ancestry debuts with a delightful album as mixed as her background. One of the most popular tracks is the fun-country live rendition of the foot-stompin' "Black Horse & the Cherry Tree", but my personal favorite is the first single "Other Side of the World". These two songs alone make the album worth buying, the only problem being that it's too darn short.

The album begins on a high note with the aforementioned "Other Side of the World", an excellent, thoroughly enjoyable, first rate song with great lyrics:

"The fire fades away
Most of every day
Is full of tired excuses
But it's too hard to say
I wish it were simple
But we give up easily
You're close enough to see that
You're the other side of the world"

Most of the other songs come close to the brilliance of the two I've already mentioned, and every song is worth listening to, with traces of Sheryl Crow and Dido popping up from time to time. Other good tracks are "Another Place to Fall" with its Coldplay type musical hooks and swelling chorus; the folksy "Under the Weather"; the Simon & Garfunkel-like guitar strumming "Suddenly I See"; the retro `80s rock ballad "False Alarm"; and the heart pounding "Stoppin' the Love".

Definitely a contender for best new artist of 2005.

Amanda Richards

Forget the Hullabaloo
It seems more and more nowadays that an artist's debut album has so much hype surrounding it we all expect a grand masterpiece with minimal professional experience. This is how a great deal of people approach Eye to the Telescope and find it wanting.

On the basis that this is a debut, I find it very satisfying. Obviously still finding her feet, many of the songs are a little tentative, but still enjoyable. Her more experimental efforts are the most exciting, such as 'Black Horse and The Cherry Tree' and 'Stoppin' the Love', the latter having some kind of barbershop quartet as backing vocals, reintroducing rich, modest harmony into pop music. 'Through the Dark' is delicate and beautiful, as is 'Slient Sea', possibly my favourite escapist song on the album.

I think if KT (why didn't she stick with Katie? Apparently, she thought it was too 'country bumpkin') continues to get some genuine support and searches out different sounds, styles and instruments, as the evidence seems to suggest she does anyway, I think we have an everyman's icon in the making.