Birmingham singer-songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and pigeon fancier (probably) Ed Geater has announced details of his second EP, Unseen, due for release on Friday 14 October.
When it comes to the DIY aesthetic, Ed Geater is giving the Levellers a run for their money – for Unseen, Geater has recorded it all himself, as well as providing all the instruments and songwriting; you half expect next he will find his own festival and print his own currency. Upon hearing the opaque, ornamental Unseen, however, it’s soon swiftly established if a good job needs doing, Geater should certainly do it himself.
Freshly minted to record label Music Mandi and with a clutch of UK shows under his braided belt, Geater’s sophomore release sees him pour out his emotions into a glacial goblet of love, longing and loss.
Lead single ‘Symmetry’ is certainly something different, Geater funneling his gently plucked, emotive acoustic motif through clipping drum beats and a soulful sigh as Geater sings: “I lost myself in you.” Comparisons to his ginger namesake will no doubt be ushered, but this is an Ed with an ear for exploration – take the the Nizlopi-esque instrumentals of ‘Rainbow Round the Sun’, which articulates Geater’s nimble, but fiery, fretwork.
‘A Message’ ends the EP in more urgent territory, a scatty beatbox (performed by Geater, natch) canvassing a quickfire chord strum and a shuddering guitar coda. In an era where acoustic acts can be unfairly pilloried for self-pity, Geater is thankfully throwing away the assumptions by proving six strings – and one brain – can go a long way.
Ed marks the launch of Unseen with a launch gig at Birmingham Mama Roux’s on Thursday 27 October. He is on Facebook and Twitter.
Sam Lambeth is a Birmingham-based writer, journalist and musician. You can read more of his work at his blog, and he is also releasing a record for Teenage Cancer Trust. You can donate here.
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