Phil Doleman
Album: Old Is The New New EP
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 5
Website: http://www.phildoleman.co.uk

If variety is the spice of life then play on. Or something like that. Phil Doleman, armed with a ukulele and a bluesy inflection, obviously wears his heart on his sleeve and his musical style and delivery set in traditional values. With five songs in twelve minutes comprising a couple of studio tracks added to two live recordings plus 'Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now) recorded onto wax cylinder, he delivers a flavour of what he's about in the blink of an eye.

Having checked out his bio, it came as no surprise that he' s been on the radar in the past as a member of The Re-entrants, a uke duo who indulged in sets of delightful and highly entertaining rock covers. However, their demise and his emergence as a musician with a genuine love and of the much maligned instrument has kept the flame flickering.

Short and snappy, to the point and more than an easy listen, it takes several plays to appreciate the originality and dare we say virtuosity - he even gets into what you might call a display of uke flair in the middle of 'Got Everything (Don't Want Anything But You)' while the wax recording of 'Big Bad Bill' lends an authentic lo-fi-ness quality to the song. Great to see Phil presenting something you don't see every day and doing it with aplomb!

Mike Ainscoe