David Kitt remains an enigma to me. I’ve known him since the late 90’s, seen him perform live extremely well but as yet have not heard a Kitt album that moves or excites me. THE NIGHTSAVER is his latest effort and I can assure you my fingers were firmly crossed that this time it would happen… Kitt has one of the smoothest, most effortless and most detached voices in the business. While this is good news there is also the less positive side which is that songs tend to sound the same.

‘Move It On’ opens proceedings with a mildy catchy melody running at medium pace, with a pleasant bass rumble. Like much here it’s pleasant enough but falls badly at the motivation level. I’m also reminded of many of his previous compositions. ‘It’s Yours’ sports a Latin beat, angelic backing vocals and another catchy tune but at best it’s background music to a posh dinner party. ‘Beat A Retreat’ has a harder edge in both instrumentation and vocal areas; it sounds different; but it ends up being a louder version of his usual work. ‘Learning How To Say Goodbye’ opens with an extended instrumental passage featuring what sounds like a drum machine pounding out a pedestrian rhythm. A bit further in an things get decidedly harder and more interesting. Vocals come in briefly and then disappear for long periods, and I just don’t get it…

Fingers still crossed, ‘Alone Like That’ enters with hammond, more drum machine and I’m guessing electronic strings. The beat is tangible and one of the best here. ‘Use Your Eyes’ performs the same trick with the same result. By ‘A Real Fire’ that incessant drum rhythm drives one to distraction but at least the song is a little different…

David Kitt fans will love this album but it leaves much to be desired for those looking for singer/songwriter inspiration and something solid to latch on to.

3/5