This soundtrack to the titular imaginary film is a finely crafted and elegant album that opens jubilantly with the Aidan Smith-like Make Me Move, a skittery, jazz car chase with 70s bass and inquisitive organs, whilst Cheapskate (who plays everything) sings as if enjoying his own private boogie at the back of a village community centre. It's vibrant and infectious enough to encourage your own personal psychedelic wig-out, and a baroque pop firecracker of a start to this beautiful record.

Instrumental If You Don't has the swagger of beat-pop's finest, it's lead guitar reminiscent of The Jam, organ jostling with brass stings that sound like a Northern version of the 60's Batman TV show. Likewise Come Back This Afternoon is a whimsical aside, all swirling organ-lines and quaint quirks. His Liverpool accent returns for Science & Love which is like an end of the pier wurlitzer version of Squeeze's Cool For Cats, every bit as cheeky and wry, and though it lacks a chorus as catchy, it's nevertheless a deliciously arch number with a fine line in similies.

There's a certain similarity in the tempo of You Know, recalling other tracks musically and lyrically, and as a result it feels a bit too much like filler when sandwiched between the other tracks that bristle and brim with ideas and inventon. Perhaps as the part of the motion picture in Cheapskate's mind it recalls certain thematic elements, but devoid of his internal projections it's a touch limp; though it bounds into an energetic bridge around the two minute mark, homaging California sunshine pop in a similar vein to Voluntary Butler Scheme. Meanwhile Little Dave has a grainy, sepia sound, flickering Super-8 images of lost weekend football kickabouts are conjured with consumate skill.

Cheapskate's care and artistry extends to the release of this debut album, which is available on a limited edition (and joy inducing) red cassette tape. Elsewhere his lovingly designed website is filled with his illustration and film treats, as well as the absolutely wonderful Cheapskate paper doll; which in other hands might smack of egotism, but here comes across as appealingly self-effacing.

Maryon Park is a wistful, ambling tune, that mingles a pessimistic delivery with a burgeoningly optimistc and romantic vibe as Cheapskate mumbles; 'Just a chance to walk you down the street/A chance to sweep you off your feet.' Instrumental The Big Decisions Are The Ones That Count picks up on these threads, tugging on them neatly with a wandering melody that billows into a rousing finale, bringing to mind Badly Drawn Boy's appealing soundtrack to About A Boy. This is followed, diversely, by Trees which has a head-nodding beat that occasionally lurches into funk, matched by rasping flute and a plinking piano. It's a pleasing last minute left-turn in direction for an album that often slumbers, albeit pleasantly, in a low gear. That's not to say that Trees is a total departure, it's definitely a fitting piece in Cheapskate's puzzle, but it's one of the album's stand-out tracks.

Closing proceedings are a brief interlude of Little Dave (Reprise), and Southerndown a melancholic instrumental with occasional flourishes of hopefulness. Acting as a fitting epilogue to the preceding record, it sends things off on a reasonably twee and quaint note; ending with the gentle lapping of a sea shore.

This is a mightily impressive record from an extremely talented individual and very much deserves an ample slice of your time, it's a rewarding and inspiring listen that narrowly clips the bar and falls short of top marks due to a few limp tracks in the mid section. Nevertheless, this thrusts Cheapskate into the spotlight of extraordinarily (multi-)talented musicians and puts pressure on what will definitely be an eagerly anticpated sophomore release.

4/5


When pop music goes into over-production overdrive, then on the fringes emerges the DIY aesthetic.

Tootling along with some shed-pop is the wonderful and laconic Cheapskate – a one-man Bluenote back catalogue, complete with teasmaid, wry looks and cheeky hooks.

Treading the line between Jim Noir and a soundtrack to an imagined ’60s exploito beat movie, in Mr Cheapskate we’ve got a real packed lunch Brian Wilson.

Coming complete with a clutch of vintage instruments and sardonic wit more akin to Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Cheapskate makes the kind of infectious ditty that will have you grinning like a simpleton. It’s the kind of music that’ll make you dance around on your rug whilst idly dreaming about razzing an E-Type through Southern France whilst smoking Gitanes.

Cheapskate has an album out too called Un Film Imaginaire which is available on Jam & Bungle Ambulance Music. Of course, you can buy it on CD… but more interesting is the fact that the long-player is also available on limited edition coloured cassette tape. Very pretty.

First track to go to is You Know, which is a slinky slice of dinky pop, with Farfisa, sunshine, horns and more. Little Dave meanwhile is so laid back that you’ll have to pop a coaster under it. Essentially, Cheapskate could soundtrack your summer if you’re a fan of DIY music with a distinct modpop feel. Dig deep… there’s a lot to love here.

Not to mention a fine line in half-dream poems uploaded to YouTube and a whole batch of brilliant illustrations.


In recent years, indiedom has been blessed with a handful of cracking one man bands playing quirky, woozily melodic pop packed with character and oodles of lo-fi charm. Into the ranks of sweet-natured "tune-and-giggle merchants" such as early Badly Drawn Boy, Jim Noir and Voluntary Butler Scheme can be added the name of Cheapskate.

Fans of the Bees will find much to like here as well - but his sound is very much his own. This Scouse Blue Note Records freak has created an album of sublime ... psychedelic lounge music that starts off with the coolest mid-60s Georgie Fame organ grooves before spacing out and getting all loved-up and pastoral. Several instrumentals are interspersed with "cup of tea and a spliff" musings on life, love and Liverpool FC.

Every sound on this album is warm, glowing and inviting, and the attention to detail is there in everything Cheapskate does: fans of packaging will love the fact that the album's available in rare coloured red cassette tape format. Taking the time -honoured 'music for an imaginary film' concept, the album kicks off with bustling, ultra-fly cocktail party / spy theme music. Busy bass, jazzy drums and tootling organ are interspersed with laidback and proudly Liverpudlian vocals.

Cheapskate's observational, wryly funny lyrics show he is an old romantic at heart, while 'If You Don't' would make the perfect chat show theme. The album's middle section slows the pace right down, for a series of lovely monged-out reveries reminiscent of Kid Loco's lost classic - A Grand Love Story. 'Don't Knit for Me' is ultra-dreamy, with its whispered vocals; while the springy lo-fi funk of 'Trees' puts a smile on the face. By the time 'Summerdown' has brought things to a suitably sundazed conclusion, you'll be thoroughly charmed.

Un Film Imaginaire takes familiar ingredients (60s soul-jazz, pastoral soundtracks, down-to-earth wit) to create a genuinely original-sounding record: enchanting, imaginative and playful. Take a trip into Cheapskate's imaginary world - it's a lot of fun.


Is too much nostalgia bad for your health? Yesterday I was dancing around the kitchen to Madonna’s Girlie Show (can’t remember the last time I found myself trying to emulate choreography off the TV), and today I’ve been watching clips from the MTV Music Awards in 1993.

I seem to have a bottomless barrel of love for all the things I associate with being 10 years old, and that definitely doesn’t exclude cassette tapes.

And how nice to have a brand new one for a change, rather than the desperately stretched versions I keep rescuing from Barnado’s. So shiny and red, this one comes courtesy of Cheapskate who also appears to have rather retro sensibilities and an odd obsession with tea-drinking…