Review Summary: The past is like a sign
a sign that never talks
Every once in a while, an artist arrives who touches upon something that has been missing—or at least unexplored or unmastered—for some time. With a voice that feels like a crossover between Van Morrison and Jeff Buckley, Dove Ellis has emerged as a musician every music lover should keep an eye on. With the release of his debut album Blizzard, a modern-day Astral Weeks, he has cemented himself as a unique songwriter with a promising career ahead.
As the year enters its closing stage and the mind and body grow tense from life and work, it becomes difficult to articulate how powerful the right piece of music can be. The opening track, "Little Left Hope," begins intricate, intimate, and comforting—like a soft pillow for the weary listener. Reassuring and beautiful in both execution and delivery, it also sets the stage for his aforementioned vocal style.
Not unlike the up-and-coming band Geese, who released their debut to acclaim earlier this year, Dove Ellis shares tonal similarities—though where Geese lean hip and cool, Ellis carries a more dignified grace. And like Geese, he proves on the second track, "Pale Song," that he can croon with echoes of Thom Yorke.
One of the most Buckley-esque moments on the album appears with the third track, "Love Is," which not only sounds like something Jeff may have made—it feels like what he might have done with the follow-up to Grace, had his life not been cut short so tragically. The song also carries hints of The Bends-era Radiohead.
The instrumentation throughout the record is rich and dense, with cello, piano, viola, and button accordion woven throughout. The album succeeds in sounding both intimate and expansive at once. Dove’s voice shines brightest during the more dynamic, rock-leaning moments—where he sings over howling electric guitars and driving drumbeats.
Although every track qualifies as a potential highlight, "Jaundice" stands out with its upbeat drum patterns and dance-worthy accordion melody—infectious, memorable, and full of charm. The introverted feel of the earlier songs make the one-two punch of "Jaundice" and "Heaven Has No Wings" feel startlingly bright and extroverted, like a drunken but heartfelt hug from an old friend you haven’t seen in years.
"It Is a Blizzard" feels distinctly Tom Waits-influenced—something to be heard in an old pub beside a fireplace. And like all the inspirations that thread through this album, it doesn't feel derivative or stagnant, but rather a continuation and expansion of a musical landscape not yet fully explored. With its December-leaning, winter-bound themes, this track will surely become, for me at least, a yearly seasonal staple.
The penultimate track finds the album at its most bare-boned: the acoustic stunner "Away You Stride," where Dove’s voice, guitar work, and lyricism stand unobscured and luminous.
The closer, "To The Sandals," shifts into instrumentation reminiscent of Black Country, New Road—an evocative and fitting end to a remarkable debut.
This album really surprised me and if it had been released earlier this year and ive had more time with it, this would really be a contender for album of the year.
I encourage everybody that loves music to check out this album.
