Roland Kay-Smith – Sailing By The Stars

Before even listening to the opening cords of the debut solo work from Roland Kay-Smith, the beautiful watercolour artwork gives you an inclination of what to expect and thankfully the album delivers.

With this being a fully acoustic album, there are no tricks to hide behind and it is obvious that a great deal of thought and effort went into the composition and lyrics for each piece here.

Vocally, there is a fragility and openness to these songs, which make them that much more impactful and touching, whether they be attempting to instil sadness, happiness or excitement. Exciting first outing as a solo act.

***1/2 out of 5.