7/10

For an artist that has been as prolific as Tom Speight these last few years, you would have thought that he would have released his debut album long ago. But after six EP releases, a flurry of singles, and numerous support slots for the likes of Ed Sheeran, Ben Howard and Travis, the frontman has finally taken the plunge and released his long-awaited debut album 'Collide', a record that aims to bring together his sound over the last two years into one bold and uplifting new collection.

While his production methods seem very simple from the outset, the one thing that separates Speight from every other guitar-wielding solo musician seems to be his flair for writing beautifully captivating singles. Opening up with the instantly engaging 'Waiting', the album quickly moves through a string of fresh and upbeat serenades that gives the frontman a basic but competent aesthetic. His laid-back approach to writing keeps him from embarking on anything too diverse, but also feels very restrictive at times, as if he isn't letting his true self shine through and instead sticks firmly to his comfort zone.

Regardless of his intent, 'Collide' is an easy to listen to release, performed extremely well. It isn't going to be breaking any boundaries anytime soon, but what it does, it does well. He may have taken longer than most to reach this point of his career, but Tom Speight has managed to deliver a strong and confident debut that will no doubt set up a long and fruitful career for himself.