Review: David Stewart – ‘Late Night Viewing.’

David Stewart may have been hiding behind Example’s ever-bright spotlight for the past few years, playing session guitar for the chart-topping star. But now he’s stepping out in to his own spotlight. The rightful way to do that would be just to put together a mixtape of songs about sex, right? Correct.

‘Late Night Viewing’ is definitely an appropriate name and once you’ve given it a few listens and got over some of the cringe-worthy refrains, you’ll be able to recognise David Stewart as a very talented artist. He’s obviously picked up some tips from Elliot Gleave over the past few years, like the art of writing a slick tune and unpredictable lyricism. Like in ‘Red Lights’ – ‘make sure that Barbie’s don’t bring Kens.’

They collaborate on ‘Run The World’ (FYI not a Beyonce cover) and with words of free love, aftershows and strip shows; it’s a typical ‘lads on tour’ anthem. He’s not the only famous friend to appear. Yasmin, Wretch 32 and Mr Ed Sheeran also lend their distinctive voices, 3 artists who have taken British ‘mainstream’ music to the next level over the past 18 months or so. Collaborating with your friends/industry buddies seems to be a popular and worthy past time. With the undoubtable success of Sheeran’s ‘No.5 Collaborations Project’ and the more recent release of Mikill Pane’s ‘You Guess It’ EP. Though, it will probably give the mixtape some exposure, it’s good that the majority of tracks are just a solo Stewart. He doesn’t need a second voice at all points, his vocal is good enough to stand alone.

After putting the chilled ’6AM’ online a while ago, Stewart obviously got a feel for music entailing passion and the like. This collection has an acceleration of power and intensity in his range of tones over some laid back R ‘n’ B and raspy dance beats. The pulsing atmosphere in ‘Blood Rush’ has a constant stream of electro vibrations and paired with some ‘suggestive’ words, it’s almost slightly disorientating.

Every track is like some sort of deep diary extract of past encounters. ‘Scream More’ classily presents ‘make up on the sheets, morals on the floor.’ New Single, ‘Lay On The Bonnet’ isn’t the best five minutes on here, but it does allow David Stewart’s varying voice to be heard. The high chorus will be driving around your head.

To be honest, David Stewart has probably written the record that many male (or female) artists have contemplated writing to just get EVERYTHING out into the open. But David Stewart has been courageous enough to pursue it.

Download it for free HERE.

Check out the ‘Lay On The Bonnet’ video.