Gustaffson released a dark and soaring collection of blues rock tracks that together make up his debut album ‘Black & White Movie’.
Liverpool-born singer and songwriter Andrew Gower is the man and talent behind Gustaffson, the musical project he founded in 2020 with lifelong friend and guitarist James Webster. Gower is best known for his acting roles in acclaimed TV shows such as Black Mirror, Outlander, and Carnival Row. With the release of his debut album, he overwrites the label of actor with ‘incredibly talented musician’.
His soulful voice introduces album opener ‘Champagne Socialist’, which is an eccentric and riff-driven exploration of musical compositions coloured by a choir of vocal harmonies. The single blends seamlessly into personal favourite ‘Closer’, which soars, rumbles and opens up, with the addition of wandering keys. ‘On Broadway’ opens in Gustaffson’s signature theatrical way with horns and dark, thick-as-honey vocals. Its slow intro builds anticipation and attracts its listener and hooks with unexpected rhythm-changes and strangely exhilarating keys.
A sudden drop in tempo and mood arrives on ‘Flowers’, on which he pulls on our heartstrings while telling a short story about flowers from a funeral… Equal tenderness is heard on ‘Go Easy’. Proving this album is a rollercoaster is next single ‘The Jacaranda’, which slowly builds towards an expressive chorus. Personal favourite ‘Paris In Summer’ paints the picture of a sun-soaked city trip, songs such as ‘Bonnie & Clive’ and ‘Northern Baby’ shine a bright light on the stunning voice of Gustaffson.
His soundscapes allow all of its element to shine equally, exposing a talent not many possess, creating a balancing act between instrumentals and sharing elaborate compositions that make his songs addictive listening experiences. ‘Black & White Movie’ is produced by Elbow’s Craig Potter and features Emmy-winning composer Bear McCreary and actor Sir Ben Kingsley. The album exhibits a wandering journey through emotions, habits, experiences, and dreams, beautifully amplified.
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