About the new album ‘Impasse’:
‘Highly Recommended’
Iain Anderson, BBC Radio Scotland
‘Highly engaging work – a persuasive piece of work and a distinctive sound’
Jim Gilchrist, The Scotsman
About the debut album ’Carefree Prisoner’:
‘Intelligent, passionate and highly original.’
fROOTS magazine
‘This collection of 12 songs penned by the classically trained Dundonian – delicately beautiful melodies, strikingly politicised lyrics – is transformed by Adam Nash’s arrangements which set Kempston’s voice and intricately picked guitar against finely woven backdrops of violin and cello. The result is so unique, so consistent, so complete that Carefree Prisoner sounds more like a unified song cycle than what normally passes for a singer-songwriter’s latest album.’
Alan Morrison, The Sunday Herald
‘From the cello to the well picked acoustic guitar and clipped vocal style it’s all there. Thought provoking lyrics coupled with beautifully crafted songs make this a beguiling album.’
Rick Fulton, The Daily Record
‘Beautiful songs’
James McKeefry, BBC Radio Leicester
‘A battered, ancient woodland of rhythms, accompany weeping strings and softly spoken acoustic guitars. The rousing, blood-pumping ‘Barricade’, marching melancholy that is ‘The Bleeding Mile’ and confidently beautiful ‘Sternest of Frowns’ are all memorable moments, making Carefree Prisoner a shimmering release which captures part of the Celtic and traditional rock genres and instantly personalises them. Scottish routes poke through, creating a beautifully sparse landscape which the listener can continually use to reflect and brood upon.’
Gary Munday, Acoustic Magazine
‘Very nice album – we really enjoyed it’
The Durbervilles, BBC Radio Leeds
‘One of the best albums I have recorded in a long time.’
Ian McCalman
‘A promising debut album’
Rock’N'Reel Magazine
About Simon’s music:
‘A celtic explosion of guitar and voice addressing contemporary and historical social and political issues in an incisive, uniquely melodic way.’
The Scotsman
‘A subtle display of true musical talent and accomplished song-writing, Simon Kempston’s passion is conveyed directly and absolutely through his contemplative lyrics and powerful guitar playing. The instrumental sections with Kempston’s intense finger-picking technique – reminiscent of Bert Jansch or Australia’s John Butler – more than impress. Simon’s masterful guitar playing and the diverse sounds from Tom Merritt-Smith’s cello combine to produce a series of inspired and soulful songs such as ‘Carefree Prisoner’. Dundee has undoubtedly produced one of Scotland’s most poetic and expressive musicians.’
Three Weeks, Edinburgh Festival Magazine 2011
‘Demonstrating his abilities as a skilled political songwriter, Kempston’s songs subtly address the country’s changing social climate while avoiding the trap of being mawkish or insincere. Instead, he is warm, earnest and open in his delivery, his baritone voice complementing his distinctive blues finger-plucking style perfectly. It is this virtuosity and honesty which makes his performance so utterly engaging, a melodious voyage into the Scottish psyche.’
Three Weeks, Edinburgh Festival Magazine 2009
‘This being the year of Homecoming, the likes of Kempston should be congratulated for resisting the brand of folk emanating from the popular London clique and reinvigorating Scottish musical identity.’
The Journal
‘Windswept and interesting’
Sue Marchant, BBC Radio East
‘This young Dundonian is now carving a successful career as a political singer-songwriter’
The Dundee Courier – featured article
‘A prolific songwriter, influenced as much by world affairs as affairs of the heart, his live performance is as intense and brooding as his material. Scotland has a fine tradition of singer/songwriters who will stand up and be counted, add one more to the list.’
FATEA magazine
‘Acoustic songcraft, that hovers just on the edge of folk. Beautiful fingerstyle guitar, accompanied by bowed strings among other things; literate and evocative songs; gently nuanced tenor vocals; simple but sophisticated arrangements. This is music to immerse yourself in completely: whether you just want to drift on its moods, or to savour all its details, it offers an immensely rewarding listening experience’
Live and Unsigned
