EP Review: Moncrieff - 'The Early Hurts'

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London based artist Moncrieff delivers soulful, robust pop on intriguing blues-tinged EP, ‘The Early Hurts’.

Moncrieff wrapped up 2019 by sharing the poignant single, ‘I Don’t Know Why’ taken from his impressive Early Hurts EP. ‘I Don’t Know Why’ shows off a stripped passionate and bluesy sound putting Moncrieff’s warm, soulful vocal at the front of the song. It’s an emotionally rich, reverent song that skirts with and deeply personal song to Moncrieff as he explains, "‘I Don’t Know Why’ was the first song I wrote that explored the emotions I’ve dealt with in the aftermath of my Brother passing away”.

’I Don’t Know Why’ sits on The ‘Early Hurts’ Ep besides tracks like ‘Ghost’ which shows off a smouldering alt pop side to Moncrieff’s sound with explosive production, raw riffs, urgent vocals and aching lyrical content as Moncrieff recalls the breakdown of a relationship in real time with frank honesty. ‘Like I Do ‘follows in a tantalising bluesy fashion as Moncrieff drills into catchy pop hooks on the confident hook, “He don’t love you like I do, like I do, like I do” as Moncrieff explores the theme of turning up at an ex lovers house and trying to win them back with a gritty, sultry, rawness.

’With All Due Respect - Like I Do Reprise’ follows, showing off a stripped piano ballad and a vintage style of vocal, adding another dimension to Moncrieff’s versatility, before rolling straight into ‘I Don’t Know Why’. The EP rounds off with the foreboding ‘Villains’ and the exhilarating ‘Guns & Bibles’ seeing Moncrieff deliver a thoroughly engaging EP that sits nicely between the gospel pop of Hozier and the impassioned, truthfulness of Dermot Kennedy.

Words of Karla Harris

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