The debut EP from Liverpudlian songwriter Steven Kennedy is a multilayered aural experience that should propel this talented young performer into the highest strata when his debut album, ‘Control Freak’ finally hits the streets.

Featuring full band workouts of three album tracks, this is a release that shouts out quality from start to finish. Kennedy’s been gathering high praise from some heavyweights in recent months – none other than Elvis Costello called him ‘the best voice to come out of Merseyside for the last 35 years’ – and on this evidence it would be a brave man that would disagree with the secret lemonade drinker himself.

The EP is instant and impressive right from the off, with the controlled timbre and supreme arrangement of the eponymous title track featuring some poetic and purposeful lyrics that strike a definite chord with anybody who’s ever tried to express themselves but been frustrated at the lack of feedback. The everyman flavour of the release is continued through Rhodes-soaked rocker ’Diary Of A Serial Killer’ – a paean to mutual hatred and disrespect. All bouncing bassline and skippy-hard breakbeat, this is a track that’s been on repeat play for far too long in my hassled head.

With another cracker,’Autopilot’, leading lissomly into the Clint Boon mix of Listen To Me (complete with swirly organwork of course), it’s a fairly sure bet that by the time that erstwhile debut LP kisses the sidewalk, many, many punters will take the songwriter’s advice to heart.

Listen To Him, he knows what he’s doing. Classy stuff.