Half-Italian, half-English, Swiss educated and apparently discovered by Natalie Imbruglia’s manager (via her hairdresser), this hotly tipped troubadour ticks all the boxes in the singer-songwriter department. His expressive, soulful voice, emotionally-wrought lyrics and fine guitar playing style certainly mark him out as a step above the average. Add some broody good looks and floppy Byronesque hairstyle, and you have what might be the perfect package.
Already, comparisons have been made with Damien Rice, David Gray and even Ray LaMontagne – but Savoretti harks back to mid-’70s strummers like James Taylor, Don McLean, Cat Stevens and most of all Canadian legend Gordon Lightfoot. It’s accessible, easy-on-the-ear stuff and should win a wide audience. ‘Dreamers’, the current single, is made for radio with a memorable understated melody and catchy chorus, while ‘Once Upon A Street’ recalls Ralph McTell’s ‘Streets Of London’ with a similar finger-picking and narrative storytelling approach. ‘Dr Frankenstein' is more ambitious with Beatlesque chord structures and some nice harmonica and piano interplay.
Thing is, overall it works quietly but well.