Early this year I received a dazzling little CD/cassette LP release by one man band Cheapskate, he closes the year with a smaller - but no less perfectly formed - package; a free downloadable EP, so you've got no excuses.

Opening track Devonshire Cream is a slumberous little tune, a guitar line clambering sleepily alongside twinkling glockenspiel. There are echoey, mumbled spoken samples intermittently dispersed amongst the sung vocals, softly uttered and perfectly fitting the lyric; 'I'm spark out on the floor.' That's not to say this a dull song, just a track that feels like that hazy world just been waking life and dreams, it's a jazzy lucid ballad with a jazz-pop groove that's typical of Cheapskate's overall retro-Northern-psychedlic vibe.

Get Up Early increases the tempo ever so slightly, a wry tune about wanting to be a social creature versus having to be awake at the crack of dawn, it rattles on like an Aidan Smith number (fans of Smith's two debut EPs will be especially delighted with this record). Fancy has a chirpy organ-line reminiscent of vintage 60s pop-experimentalist Joe Meek, but fortunately Cheapskate can sing in tune and this track about fancying his boss's son's girlfriend is a humourous and bittersweetly affecting tune, that's as steeped in the slightly grumpy despondency of genuinely fancying someone you probably shouldn't try and have, but punctuated with enough witty wordplay and quirky production flourishes to keep it light and quirky. Vocally he even sounds oddly like Elliot Smith as he sings the wonderfully child-like lyric; 'Cause I'll eat you, put you in my bellyhole.'

There's a fitting continuation from the previous track into Woolton Roses as Cheapskate sings; 'I guess I'm gonna have to face it, if you don't want me I'm gonna have to fake it.' The track bounces along over a The Beach Boys-style pop strut, with typically Brian Wilson-style backing vocals, lending a joyous sense of defiance to the song. It draws to a rousing conclusion with a portly little brass line alongside the harpsichord-like melody, with Cheapskate repeating 'If you don't want me, then I don't want you too.'

His album Un Film Imaginaire was a wildly inventive and listenable treat, which suffered at the hands of a couple of slightly soggy tracks in its middle, this EP is a perfectly clipped and pruned record, sleepy love songs told with heart and humour. Go and download it for free from his website now!

4/5


When the men of Britain retreat to their sheds, they like to tinker with things. And quite possibly read bongo magazines. While the majority of shed dwellers come out reeking of oil, Mr Cheapskate comes out covered in melodies and wry, sideways glaces at the world.

See, Cheapskate is a purveyor of shed-pop complete with a lovely, homespun DIY ambience that invites you in and sits you down with a nice brew. In much the same way early Twisted Nerve releases felt like they’d simply ambled in off the street, Cheapskate’s music doesn’t so much announce its arrival with great fanfare, rather, pops round your house after passing through the area… and it’s very pleasing indeed.

This new EP, ‘Knock Knock Knock’, sees a slate roofed world shot through Super 8. And where previous releases have had a pleasingly kooky feel, ready to give you a cheeky wink in passing, this new cut sounds more like a lazy cat, dozing in the sun.

And now the nights have well and truly drawn in and everything things markedly chillier, Cheapskate may well have made one of the first thermal pop records in history. Third track on the EP, ‘Fancy’, could easily be redubbed ‘Flask’, as it can be relied upon to be fished out and warm yer cockles at any given moment. It’s the first Thermos Psych’ record, and hopefully, not the last.

The lead track, ‘Devonshire Cream’, sets the pace for this gloriously languid set of tunes, which strolls along with toytown xylophones, woozy biscuit-crumb vox and sleepy jazz-pop as played by fat mice on a doorstep. ‘Woolton Roses’ sees the pop-psychedelia return that we’ve seen in previous Cheapskate releases, only the thin fog of the other EP tracks remains, leaving us with a deliciously cuddly shot of sunshine – just imagine if Brian Wilson had been encouraged to stay in the sandbox with his fireman’s helmet on.

‘Get Up Early’, ironically enough, sounds more like someone struggling to get out of bed. It’s covered in that lovely Sunday morning fuggy feeling of enjoying your bed a bit too much.

What’s great about Cheapskate’s music is that it is made without the cynicism of much of the modern pop that comes along presently. File next to Alfie, The Bees, the Teenage Opera suite, Beach Boys doing ‘Sunflower’ and The Junipers, and you have a very decent collection of sunshine pop that will give you musical vitamins.

A wonderful slice of British eccentricity. Buy it now. And it’s out right now and available at iamcheapskate.com/knockknockknock


Get the Kettle On.

Just like the tea he has a strong penchant for, Cheapskate is the perfect blend of everything. Finger snapping, toe tapping, dance-around-your-room beats that leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, just like that brilliantly hot brew that heats your very core on these increasingly cold -but still not winter- evenings, oh how very twee. Citing influences from his parents’ Mo-town orientated record collection, he uses them to create a special sound that resonates and proves difficult to get out of your head.

The opening track of his new EP “Devonshire Cream” sets the record up beautifully and features within the lyrics the title of the EP “Knock Knock Knock”. Cheapskate’s soothing voice harmonises with the gentle tink of the glockenspiel and various other combinations of retro instruments to create a mysterious mixture of easy-listening all the while dance-worthy music that leaves a sickly sweet sound ringing in your ears. The rest of the release carries on in a similar fashion, with clear influences and resounding notes of the Beach Boys and the Animals.

The artist releases all his work under his own self made label “Jam & Bungle Ambulance Music” and aims to sign others up to the cause, with a few potentials in the pipeline being kept firmly between tight lips for the time being. All EPs put out between 2008 and 2009 were iTunes only releases and it wasn’t until his debut album “Un Film Imaginaire” was released on the March 1st 2010 that he began to release here through his website as well as On the Corner store in Manchester.

The latest EP “Knock Knock Knock” is due for release on the 1st November and is available for FREE download via the website and here specially for all you Artrockers out there is a cheeky sneak preview.

Cheapskate will be brilliant with time, and remember you heard it here first!

If you’re on Flickr you can head over there to gaze at some of his visual creations as well.


It’s a rarity to sit down to review some material knowing that those reading it will be able to share the experience without having to pay. Except you internet pirates. They know where you lot are you know. Luckily, the man who calls himself Cheapskate has released an EP of brand new material that should brighten the day of even the most ruinous swashbuckler.

Called ‘Knock Knock Knock’, it is something of a departure from Cheapskate’s previous work with the artist himself claiming that he felt the need to “get these songs out of his system”. A comment which would usually set alarm bells ringing in the mind of any fan or reviewer but with Cheapskate his charm and passion for his music and the listener’s enjoyment is so imbedded in the very fabric of the songs that you never for a moment feel that this is anything other than his best work.

To an extent, simplicity is the aim of the game here and manages to create four songs that would sit as easily playing through an iPod while you listlessly watch the rain stunt off the window of the bus or being played through a Gold GE Wildcat placed carefully under a tree while you have a relaxing lie down in a park with a flask of tea. It’s summer, it’s winter. It’s music for all seasons and it’s fifteen minutes of serene bliss in a world where fifteen minutes seems like too much time to put aside for your own enjoyment.

Cheapskate is one of the most creative and careful artists that you’ve never heard of* and a delve into his back catalogue will see you whisked back to a simpler time where laughs were laughs, people were pleasant to one another and the likelihood of you being offered a nice brew by a neighbour was more than 10%. ‘Knock Knock Knock’ is like eating a slice of your favourite cake after you’ve just finished your favourite dinner cooked for you by a doting relative. That’s what it’s like. Go on. Download it and tell me I’m wrong.

‘Knock Knock Knock’ is out Monday 1st November free from www.iamcheapskate.com

*Unless you have, obviously. 9/10