Chris T-T creates fragmented songs that verge on the cool side of lo-fi without losing a love for all things pop. Standing in front of the mic, he's frightened; like an animal caught in headlights, his eyes dart as he begins Bubble, a punk-pop diversion with jagged guitars. Halfway through, T-T manages a quick "Hello", and a timid smile.
It's not what you expect from a man who looks more than able to hold his own in a dirty brawl. He's big. He's hirsute. And his new album Panic at Sainsbury's proves he's the Phil Redmond of the DIY music scene, with its soap opera narratives of supermarkets and suburban love affairs at crisis point. While Badly Drawn Boy has lush arrangements full of sunshine and disappointment, T-T's bedroom is a much darker place. His songs are sweet on the outside, bitter at the centre, simple, often humorous gems with twisted lyrics. Similarly, his voice is ordinary, easy, Billy Bragg without the affectation, but has power when he chooses to unleash it.
F Sharp has icy keyboards that create a sense of uneasiness. But nothing prepares you for its tale of domestic violence. "I'm sorry I kicked you, Susan," T-T sings in a world-weary but unapologetic voice. He blinks, terror in his eyes as he catalogues reasons why the Susan in question deserved what she got. "After I bruised you in the kitchen, now I know we'll never be apart." It's chilling. "Yeah, erm, controversial one," he shrugs, the directness and strength of his lyrics strangers to him in real life.
It's this ability to try on personae that makes T-T watchable. He becomes a series of characters all living out various scenes in a kitchen sink drama, while barely moving and never looking comfortable. The most we get is his hand wiping sweat from his eyes as he sings of a number of highly inventive ways in which to kill pop stars - from Celine Dion to Sir Cliff Richard - in a beguiling but acid voice. And he can rock when he wants to. Sideshow Mel sees the amps turned up and his head go down as guitars screech and build to a blistering climax. "Thank you. It's been very nice," T-T says faintly. Maybe nice isn't the right word.
***** Unmissable **** Recommended *** Enjoyable
** Mediocre * Terrible
