Cargo Records

Keep Britain Untidy

‘Keep Britain Untidy’ is Tom’s debut album with no overdubs, just one guitar, one voice and 11 great songs. Few artists could carry such a minimalist approach , but Tom’s unique talent makes him an all together different proposition. His vocal prowess is something to behold, and it is almost impossible to convey the beauty and sheer power this man can produce with his La Scalla Larynx.

It is surely tuned to his very heart and soul. ‘Keep Britain Untidy’ is a heavily personal anecdote charting Tom’s recent marriage break up, perhaps most potently in ‘Good bye to the Lord of my Life’. The lachrymose nature of this track is deep enough to crush a whale. ‘Port In A Storm’ is another highlight where he shows the full extent of his awesome vocal range. The haunting arpeggio intro recalls Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway’, but the chorus lift establish the tune in its very own territory. In many ways this material, despite the unmistakable voice, couldn’t be any further away from the Inspiral’s pop format. Tom seems to be tapping into ramshackle Blues, roving folk and Soul, the type which John Martyn made his name with his 70’s albums ‘Solid Air’, and ‘One World. This is roots music. Ian Fortnam in his Music 365 review of Tom’s 100 club concert in London said, ‘’Armed with only an acoustic guitar and sporting a Hilfiger lampooning ‘Tommy Hilfiger T shirt, Tom Blasts out a series of denuded epics from his forthcoming debut album along with the stunningly forceful ‘Straight Into Your Heart’ (complete with spine-tingling falsetto climaxes), through the deliciously salacious ‘Taste Of You’ to the stunning Scott Walker-esque fire of ‘What Can I Lose?’ Hingley’s self- penned material is by turns brooding, explosive and undeniably awesome.’’ ‘’Tom Hingley could always be counted upon to shatter lenses at fifty paces with his rare clarity, and heavens be praised, he’s lost none of his power, In fact, it would seem that he’s extended his range to a quite stratospheric level’’.