An outpouring of feeling, the fool by Eden J Howells is an expose of emotion and an inquiry into the self. London-based queer multi-instrumentalist, Eden, gracefully tackles the complexities of the heart and mind through the self-explorative medium of alt-folk. With a wistful voice and stripped back sound, Eden bears their soul through lyrics straight from the pages of a well crafted diary. the fool brings a welcome authenticity to the ever impersonal modern music scene.
The song 'ordinary' tenderly opens the EP with profound introspection. Its simple instrumentals put Edens vocals at the heart of the song, with themes of childhood and time inducing a sense of longing for ease. The distant sounds of children playing in the background is a really lovely touch, adding depth to the imagined past Eden contemplates upon.
With a plucking of guitar strings, 'mercury' begins like an epic folk lullaby. The chord progression is deliciously moody and much like that of Hozier's early music. Intercepting sounds of murmured whispers and heavy drums take the song out of its traditional folk roots and into an angsty modernity.
Full of swagger, 'nice enough' is emotionally detached in comparison to the songs before it, bringing an exciting new energy to the EP. The combination of tongue and cheek lyrics with twanging guitar provides an almost Western sound, which Eden pulls off masterfully. This song exudes confidence, defining, with clarity, Eden's own unique sound.
Ending with 'too sick', Eden offers one last look into their psyche. Rich and raw, this ballad is deeply personal and heavy hearted, with moments sonically alike to some of WILLOW's softer songs of the past few years. The lingering feeling that 'too sick' leaves us with makes it the perfect ending to the fool.
Listen to The Fool on Spotify now, have a gander at Eden's upcoming gigs and maybe even buy some merch (its pretty sick).
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