Review: "love&light" EP by Milan André
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Milan André delivers a bright and airy meditative world on the sun-drenched splendor of the “love&light” EP. Everything positively shines. His voice has a tremendous understated power to it for it goes for a gentle, intimate tact. Arrangements further highlight the poetic beauty of the sound always keeping things spacious.
Quite thoughtful, Milan’s incorporation of folk within a pop context feels pastoral. Flourishes are included within these pieces from the washes of ambient bliss to steady, determined beats that underpin for emotional impact. Balance is the trick for he manages to bring together many different styles and sounds as he makes an aural universe that feels refreshingly unique.
Folk truly does rest at the very heart of it, no matter what other genres Milan liberally brings into the fray. On this his compositions, rich, luxurious, but always grounded in a heartfelt sincerity, recalls the gorgeous compositions of Fleet Foxes. Akin to their work Milan is not afraid to let light experimentation into the mix. Even his voice has the same honeyed spirit as theirs. Beyond this, Milan’s urbane sensibility draws from the thought-provoking pop of Grizzly Bear in how carefully he lets each sound breathe.
Setting the tone for the collection is the sweeping beauty of the title track “love&light”. Delicate guitar strings have an insistent, almost Steve Reich-like mantra to them. This eventually shifts into something highly personal. For a while it is simply alone, Milan and the guitar before elements filter in helping to bring additional texture into the ever-expanding spirit. By far the highlight of the EP, the song opts for a tremendous soulfulness.
Going for a bit of defiance, the fire of “declare” grows and grows. Here the percussion is more prominently placed for maximum effect. Even for the final moments of the piece, the disorienting experience of the vocals feels real. For the finale, the cyclical “everything” goes for a reflective stance, as the piano gives the song a certain timelessness. Little atmospheric elements flutter about giving the song a sense of growth.
The “love&light” EP reveals Milan André to be a true master of storytelling crafting a world that is welcoming, warm, and kind.