Ed Harcourt - Furnaces, review: 'completely engrossing’

The former Mercury nominee emerges from the shadows with an album demanding huge venues
Tribal rhythms: Ed Harcourts new songs are monsters on his seventh solo LP
Steve Gullick
David Smyth12 August 2016

After briefly enjoying the spotlight with a Mercury nomination for his debut album in 2001, Ed Harcourt has since operated mostly in the shadows.

Ed Harcourt - Furnaces

He’s well-connected, playing on stage with Beck, The Libertines and Marianne Faithfull, and writing songs with James Bay, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Paloma Faith. Ralph Steadman even painted the cover for this seventh solo album, which should earn him renewed attention thanks to a new major record deal.

The songs are monsters, from the raw, tribal rhythms of There is a Light Below to the horns and howls of the title track. You Give Me More Than Love is slow, anguished and completely engrossing.

The production from Flood makes them sound huge. All he needs now are huge venues to play them in.

(Polydor)

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