Ger Eaton is an Irish singer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter, who eventually releases his debut album and captivates us with his Renaissance/baroque pop. He had been building this record for years, and now that it finally arrives, it lands with confidence, warmth and emotional weight. Richly textured, featuring classic songwriting and cinematic dimensions, “Season Changes” feels both personal and timeless. At its core, it is an old-fashioned, brittle break-up album, lyrical but not melodramatic, majestic but not pretentious, ethereal but not cheesy. The first thing you understand when you listen to the album is that it is lush and meticulously arranged. Orchestral strings, mellotron, brass and subtle folk elements sit comfortably alongside classic pop melodies. Influences like Scott Walker, Jimmy Webb, Brian Wilson, Nick Drake, The Beatles and mid and late ’60s melodic pop are clearly present, but Eaton never sounds like he’s merely mimicking — he reshapes those ingredients into his own thing, his own voice. My personal favorite song on “Season Changes” is “Home Again,” which sounds impressively melancholic, dreamy and trippy. Other standout moments include “I Thought I’d a Friend”, “Hollow”, “Phoenix (Reborn)” and “The Time It Takes To Fall”. Eaton’s work has great substance, with remarkable, natural flow, a unique atmosphere and a genuine sense of travelling away. For a debut, “Season Changes” is remarkably assured and confident, emotional and beautifully crafted. Ger Eaton has delivered an amazing, deeply human and vulnerable record that rewards all the attentive listeners, invites reflection and thinking and lingers long after the final notes fade.
♦ 8,5/10
Dimitris Zacharopoulos
