ADRIAN THRILLS: Spaceman Sam aims for the stars

ADRIAN THRILLS: Spaceman Sam aims for the STARS

Sam Ryder: There’s Nothing But Space, Man! (Parlophone)

Verdict: More than a one-hit wonder

Rating: ***

Olly Murrs: Marry Me (EMI)

Verdict: Loved-up pop

Rating: ***

Leftfield: This Is What We Do (Virgin)

Verdict: Powerful and poignant

Rating: ****

When TikTok sensation Sam Ryder was preparing to represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in May, his plan for the big night was straightforward: ‘Get out there, sing my head off for three minutes and make my country proud’

His hell-for-leather approach served him well in Turin, with his melodramatic ballad Space Man finishing runner-up to Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra to give Britain its best result since Imaani’s Where Are You? also came second in 1998.

Essex-born Ryder, 33, has made the most of the opportunity given to him by Eurovision and his flowing locks and ear-to-ear grin have been hard to ignore since the spring.

He played at The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, sang with Foo Fighters and Queen during the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert at Wembley and is set to host BBC1’s New Year’s Eve party. Having paid his dues as a wedding singer, he isn’t going to let his big chance go begging.

TRACK OF THE WEEK

POINTLESS by LEWIS CAPALDI

Having called his recent comeback single Forget Me, the Scottish soul man sticks to the pessimistic messaging on Pointless.

The song itself, co-written with Ed Sheeran, is a slow-burning, warm-hearted ballad.

He brings the same no-holds-barred approach to his debut album, out today. Wringing every last ounce of emotion out of its 13 original songs, he skips between big-voiced ballads, acoustic folk and rock. He isn’t sure exactly what sort of singer he wants to be, but you have to admire his hurricane force delivery and chutzpah.

Ryder grew up as a fan of Iron Maiden and Eurovision 2006 winners Lordi, and he opens There’s Nothing But Space, Man! with a guitar-driven rock number, deploying a James Blunt-like falsetto on Deep Blue Doubt, a track that builds from a tender start into an homage to 1980s hair metal.

There’s another full-throttle rocker in Tiny Riot, one of three songs co-written with Amy Wadge and Max Wolfgang, the team behind Space Man.

The other track by the same writers, All The Way Over, is a blustery ballad that echoes the bombastic thrust of his Eurovision hit.

Blessed with an impressive vocal range, Ryder is nothing if not versatile. His default lyrical position is one of wide-eyed optimism, seasoned with a touch of self-help psychobabble, and he’s in his element on soul number Somebody (‘We’ve got one life, let’s make it amazing!’).

There’s another 1980s throwback on More, built around a shuffling groove that recalls Tears For Fears’ Everybody Wants To Rule The World.

There are several tracks on which the grandiose instrumentation feels overblown: Ten Tons is a decent song swamped by a choir of backing vocalists and a histrionic guitar solo.

And, while Spaceman Sam’s octave-spanning vocal gymnastics are impressive, there are times when you long for a little restraint. That may come as his career progresses: unlike many Eurovision hopefuls, Ryder looks set to be more than a one-hit wonder and he’s certainly giving it his best shot here.

Given that Olly Murs has never fully shaken off comparisons with Robbie Williams, the opening line of Best Night Of Your Life, a track on his new album Marry Me, comes as a bit of a surprise

Given that Olly Murs has never fully shaken off comparisons with Robbie Williams, the opening line of Best Night Of Your Life, a track on his new album Marry Me, comes as a bit of a surprise. ‘Let me entertain you,’ he sings, in a reprise of Robbie’s famous rallying cry.

So much for forging your own identity. Marry Me still plays unashamedly to his own strengths, though. His first LP in four years — and first since he left RCA for EMI in February — it’s bouncy and charming.

Packed with three-minute pop gems and a few more dance flavours than previous efforts, it won’t change the face of music, but should raise a few smiles.

Olly’s engagement to bodybuilder Amelia Tank looms large. In addition to the title track, there’s a loved-up disco romp in I Found Her and another funky ode to his fiancee in Dancing On Cars: ‘Shaped like a melody straight out of the 70s, look what you’ve done to me,’ he sings.

Even when he slips into romantic woe mode, on the Police-like reggae track Die Of A Broken Heart, he can’t help but sound upbeat. A four-year break has done him a world of good.

Electronic duo Leftfield’s first album in seven years was created in challenging circumstances

Electronic duo Leftfield’s first album in seven years was created in challenging circumstances.

Founder Neil Barnes — now accompanied by recording engineer Adam Wren — completed it while awaiting an operation for bowel cancer (he’s since been given the all-clear), and the band’s December tour was postponed so he could continue his recovery.

Given his health issues, it’s a remarkably buoyant return, with the title track a propulsive banger in the tradition of 1999’s Phat Planet, the track that soundtracked the award-winning ‘surfers’ TV advert for Guinness.

There are striking cameos, too, by poet Lemn Sissay, reggae star Earl Sixteen and Grian Chatten (of Dublin band Fontaines DC). With two melodic Kraftwerk tributes in City Of Synths and Machines Like Me, and a lovely curtain call in the warm electronica of Power Of Listening, this is an admirably diverse comeback that captures one of Britain’s most potent dance acts at the top of their game.

Sam Ryder starts a tour on March 17, 2023, at Ulster Hall, Belfast (axs.com). Olly Murs starts his tour on April 21, 2023, at OVO Hydro, Glasgow (ticketmaster.co.uk).

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