London based acoustic singer songwriter Daniel Inouwa’s “Firelight” EP (his debut) promises to be a cut above the rest of his genre. As the scene has gained a real taste for stripped-back folky musicians akin to Inouwa, it’s hard to distinguish what makes each shine brighter than their peers.
Each song tracks an “intimate journey of secrets” the press release hails – (“Locked Down In You”), distance (“The Fall”), time (“Lay Now”), a tragic event (“Firelight”) and the couple’s attempt to hold it together. It almost sounds very Bon Iver-esque and you’d not be far wrong; if you were a fan of Bon Iver’s critically acclaimed For Emma, Forever Ago you’ll feel similarities oozing from each track.
Inouwa really writes and plays from his heart, you can feel it aching in his voice. It’s also hard to believe he’s only been playing guitar since 2008 as he intricately picks underneath layered vocals on “The Fall.” However, it’s on “Lay Now” where Inouwa shines as he starts quietly crescendoing to a magnificent end as the words “lay, lay now…” in a glorious cacophony of delicate harmonies.
On this very accomplished debut EP, Inouwa blends the fragility of the aforementioned Bon Iver with hints of a more “accessible” sound in places that aren’t dissimilar to artists like Damien Rice and Ryan Adams. There’s something quite captivating about Daniel Inouwa’s music and this quietly understated yet perfectly written 4-track EP do more than enough to whet the appetite for more.
