Elmiene - sounds for someone

Raised on the power of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, the expansive R&B of D’Angelo, and the pop landscape of his 2000s childhood, ‘Sounds For Someone’ - the long-awaited debut from British neo-soul riser Elmiene - showcases vulnerability, vivacity, and a vocal that can break and fix hearts within the space of one single song. Opener ‘Moment’, a delicate, soft piano track, blends seamlessly into ‘Cry Against The Wind’, breaking open from a jazzy blues swirl into a broad, breathing soul-pop universe, setting up the rest of a subtly gorgeous record. ‘Saviour’ jangles with muffled percussion, made for a summer spent lying on golden beaches, before ‘Reclusive’ soars as a classic pop anthem; Elmiene’s flawless falsetto and clean-as-a-whistle vocal runs spilling out over a sumptuous ‘00s R&B backdrop.

The confidence of his sonic choices - layered vocals, syncopated rhythms, and a variety of classic and modern instrumentation - clashes strikingly with the lyrical vulnerability at the record’s heart. Both ‘Time Doesn’t Heal’ and ‘Lie With Me’ show no fear in yearning for a past lover, letting light shine through the cracks in his breaking heart. And in among clear nods to his heroes - this is the sort of album that makes it clear he’s a real student of his art - ‘Sounds for Someone’ showcases an impressive level of innovation: ‘Don’t Say Maybe’ reverberates around an almost avant-garde pop melody and vocal style, while ‘Light By The Window’ plays with spoken word and gospel organ highlights.

Closer ‘Told You I’ll Make It’ ends the album on a note of rasping defiance. A debut built on connection between Elmiene’s heart and those of his audience, this is an extremely accomplished and deliciously addictive debut.