aaamusic | On 24, Jun 2012

Having already developed a strong following in his native Sweden for collaborations with artists such as DJ Avicii and John de Sohn, Andreas Moe could be on the verge of UK acclaim, too, with his self-released debut EP Collecting Sunlight.

A collection of atmospheric and emotionally bare tracks in which, according to Moe, ‘the heart features heavily’, Collecting Sunlight is perfectly suited for fans of Bon Iver and Beirut. Although if understated vocals are your thing, it’s probably best listening to something else, for Moe makes full use of his massive vocal range, and isn’t afraid of showing off the obvious Jeff Buckley influence. In fact, some parts of the track Snow, such as ‘suddenly the autumn leaves appear, feel the warmth disappear’ could literally have been taken straight out of Grace, such is the resemblance to Buckley’s distinctive sound.

Andreas’s voice is showcased from the very beginning of the EP, and is consistently brilliant throughout, although without it, I can’t help feeling that songs such as Snow would be pretty dull. That’s not the point though; the combination of Moe’s lyrics and atmospheric music is a perfect match, and together they make an impressive debut.

★★★★★

Author: Ryan Hook