Tom Killner – Borrowed Time
Borrowed Time, the third studio album from blues infused singer-songwriter-guitarist Tom Killner, lyrically considers and reflects upon "the rollercoaster of life," to quote the award winning musician.
In support of such storytelling lyricism, you will find a number of Nashville influenced songs, a few fun rock and rollers and a couple of heartfelt downtempo tunes, as delivered by Killner, Wes Brook (keys, Hammond), Callum Houghton (bass) and Rich Hunter (drums).
There are also contributions from Sam Wood (pedal steel) and Anthony Croft (fiddle), with Oli Brown and talented female artist Kier on backing vocals.
Indeed the album’s overall sound, and musical arc, is such that you could be forgiven for thinking Tom Killner is a Nashville bluesman (Americana, American folk and country are all part of the mix), and not a musician hailing from Rotherham in the UK.
Another telling aspect of Killner’s best, most honest and personal work to date is that some of it was conceived during lockdown, when Killner, like so many others, experienced some mental health challenges.
Such times and issues are reflected in the album’s title and core lyricism, a clarion call to enjoy, celebrate and embrace life to the fullest.
Opening number 'Cosmic Sounds' (one of the songs conceived during lockdown) may seem like a strange title given the song is rooted in jaunty, up-tempo Nashville country (set over a train track rhythm and some nice pedal steel from guest player Sam Wood).
However the uplifting lyric about taking more time to enjoy what’s around you, perhaps while the car radio or your ear phones are blasting out great music ("head on down that blacktop, those cosmic sounds playing in your head") reinforces the song’s title and meaning.
The bright, ear-catching start to proceedings continues with the bluesier (but still Nashville shaped) 'Devil’s Gate' before 'One Day at a Time' (which reminds of peak-era Bob Dylan in places) drops the tempo to mix blues harmonica with gospel-tinged Hammond from Wes Brook.
Fun honky-tonk country blues rock and roller 'On The Other Side,' featuring nice slide/ solo work from Tom Killner, pushes the tempo and amps back up; following number, folksy ballad 'Only You,' provides charming acoustic, piano and fiddle contrast.
The title track adds a little southern fried stomp to proceedings before the folksier blues of 'No More' (featuring perfectly dovetailing harmony vocals from Kier) returns us to Nashville via Tom Killner’s guitar twang, subtle piano backing and that train track rhythm.
'Heart of Gold' is a strong mid-tempo that carries nice light and shade through its insistent and persistent rhythm; it also features Tom Killner’s most purposeful vocal of the entire album ("life ain’t always what you expected, and it keeps on rollin’ on… you’ve still got that heart of gold!")
'Light It Up' rocks the blues rolling quotient back up (with a Stonesy strut) before the album concludes with 'Ride With Me,' a folk-blues bookend to 'Cosmic Sounds' with a similar jauntiness and don’t let life pass you by lyricism ("time is short, got things to see, c’mon take a ride with me!").
Tom Killner has never sung better nor sounded better (kudos here to the co-production, mixing and mastering by audio guru Wayne Proctor at House of Tone Studios).
As importantly, with studio offering number three he hasn’t delivered a good album, as with 2018’s Get Back Up; he’s delivered a great one.
Enjoy life. Enjoy Tom Killner.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
In support of such storytelling lyricism, you will find a number of Nashville influenced songs, a few fun rock and rollers and a couple of heartfelt downtempo tunes, as delivered by Killner, Wes Brook (keys, Hammond), Callum Houghton (bass) and Rich Hunter (drums).
There are also contributions from Sam Wood (pedal steel) and Anthony Croft (fiddle), with Oli Brown and talented female artist Kier on backing vocals.
Indeed the album’s overall sound, and musical arc, is such that you could be forgiven for thinking Tom Killner is a Nashville bluesman (Americana, American folk and country are all part of the mix), and not a musician hailing from Rotherham in the UK.
Another telling aspect of Killner’s best, most honest and personal work to date is that some of it was conceived during lockdown, when Killner, like so many others, experienced some mental health challenges.
Such times and issues are reflected in the album’s title and core lyricism, a clarion call to enjoy, celebrate and embrace life to the fullest.
Opening number 'Cosmic Sounds' (one of the songs conceived during lockdown) may seem like a strange title given the song is rooted in jaunty, up-tempo Nashville country (set over a train track rhythm and some nice pedal steel from guest player Sam Wood).
However the uplifting lyric about taking more time to enjoy what’s around you, perhaps while the car radio or your ear phones are blasting out great music ("head on down that blacktop, those cosmic sounds playing in your head") reinforces the song’s title and meaning.
The bright, ear-catching start to proceedings continues with the bluesier (but still Nashville shaped) 'Devil’s Gate' before 'One Day at a Time' (which reminds of peak-era Bob Dylan in places) drops the tempo to mix blues harmonica with gospel-tinged Hammond from Wes Brook.
Fun honky-tonk country blues rock and roller 'On The Other Side,' featuring nice slide/ solo work from Tom Killner, pushes the tempo and amps back up; following number, folksy ballad 'Only You,' provides charming acoustic, piano and fiddle contrast.
The title track adds a little southern fried stomp to proceedings before the folksier blues of 'No More' (featuring perfectly dovetailing harmony vocals from Kier) returns us to Nashville via Tom Killner’s guitar twang, subtle piano backing and that train track rhythm.
'Heart of Gold' is a strong mid-tempo that carries nice light and shade through its insistent and persistent rhythm; it also features Tom Killner’s most purposeful vocal of the entire album ("life ain’t always what you expected, and it keeps on rollin’ on… you’ve still got that heart of gold!")
'Light It Up' rocks the blues rolling quotient back up (with a Stonesy strut) before the album concludes with 'Ride With Me,' a folk-blues bookend to 'Cosmic Sounds' with a similar jauntiness and don’t let life pass you by lyricism ("time is short, got things to see, c’mon take a ride with me!").
Tom Killner has never sung better nor sounded better (kudos here to the co-production, mixing and mastering by audio guru Wayne Proctor at House of Tone Studios).
As importantly, with studio offering number three he hasn’t delivered a good album, as with 2018’s Get Back Up; he’s delivered a great one.
Enjoy life. Enjoy Tom Killner.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ