Album reviews

GEORGE EZRA GOLD RUSH KID

Columbia

George Ezra’s now highly recognisable soulful voice shines once again on his third studio album Gold Rush Kid. Anyone For You opens the album – having been released in January, listeners will likely be familiar with the track’s joyful piano sounds lifted by the 28-year-old’s powerful bassbaritone voice. The titular track and

Don’t Give Up demonstrates Ezra’s impressive vocal range with a more electronic feel to his usual big band sounds. However, even with the experimentation, a catchy chorus is never far away.

Despite the initial upbeat feel to the record, Ezra offers some slower tracks as the album progresses, including the likes of Fell in Love at the End of the World and I Went Hunting. Sadly, In The Morning feels slightly out of place on the record and the frequent repetition didn’t land as well as expected. Ultimately,

Ezra has undoubtedly provided listeners with a powerful reminder of his vocal capabilities, but the gradual move to slower tracks left me a little too subdued by the end that a punchier closing song may have offered more of an impression.

CONNIE EVANS

SINEAD O’BRIEN

TIME BEND AND BREAK THE BOWER

Chess Club Records

Irish singer and poet Sinead O’Brien combines the power of words, music and image in her debut record resulting to deliver a self-assured first release.

The 11-track album opens powerfully with punchy track Pain Is The Fashion Of The Spirit and sets the album up nicely.

O’Brien’s Irish accent seeps through her music wonderfully and although her spoken word style of music may not be to everyone’s taste, there’s no doubt that it’s powerful. The album’s second track Salt cements the strength of the album and demonstrates O’Brien’s unapologetic approach to releasing music. Listeners may already be familiar with Girlkind, which was released toward the end of 2021 and most definitely gave fans a taste of what to expect from Time Bend and Break the Bower.

The record closes with a slightly more choppy and sombre sound with the likes of Multitudes and Go Again.

However both pick up to leave an impactful and memorable impression.

O’Brien is definitely one to keep an eye on.