Album Review: Rhodes - Morning EP

Since the release of his début EP Raise your love UK singer songwriter Rhodes has barely stopped. Outside of touring in his own right, he's been playing support bills for the likes of London Grammar and Sam Smith and will spend the Summer playing a variety of incredible festivals. With latest four track EP M' dropping a few days ago, it's safe to say that this will mark the start of Rhodes' ascension into the public eye. If you check out the Rhodes tracks I've already posted about, you'll know I'm a pretty big fan, so let's look at Morning objectively, shall we?

Opener "Your Soul" is my personal pick as the stand out track on the EP. Its soaring chorus and multi-layered, breathy vocals have become indicative of the Rhodes sound. Backed up by a dallying yet fully Enya-esque electro beat and piano, It's an extension of the grandiose songs we heard back on Raise Your Love. "Your Soul" is going to be a shoe-in on the upcoming album and a crowd pleaser on the festival circuit.

In the wake of such a grand opener, "Sway" is under some pressure to keep the whole thing going, and I feel it's something it does with varying degrees of success. Middling between downbeat verses and a robust, flourishing chorus, it's neither here nor there. Not a bad track at all, but something quite forgettable, especially when you consider the ever increasing talents of the youngster. If this was a first EP track or even the first release from Rhodes, it'd be a real attention grabber, but among the wealth of great songs already released it just feels a bit lost.

"Bloom" is a track that will likely not be played live too often but has enough charm and charisma to make it well deserving of a slot on this EP. What I'd really like, is for it to be reworked into a full length song (standing at only 2.19 and being mostly comprised of instrumental guitar) I feel there's more life in here to be tapped into with a build up just begging to be followed by one of Rhodes' calling card chorus'.

Closing off the EP is title song "Morning". Demonstrating the kind of innocence and soulful grace that Rhodes has come to make his own, it's a real highlight not just of the EP, but of all his tracks. A real reminder if it was needed that the guy  will grow into one of this generations most prodigious song writing talents if there's any justice in the world.

All things considered, 'Morning' is a sterling collection of songs that it'd be well worth your time to check out. If you're unfamiliar with Rhodes, I'd suggest checking out his first EP 'Raise your Love' before fully engaging with this one, but long time fans will find little to gripe about here.

"Morning" is available to buy now via itunes from the link below, check out Rhodes' facebook for details of upcoming releases and tours.

Morning - EP - RHODES