The Drunk Astronomer is a fantastic new artist from our very own county of Yorkshire! The Ripon-based musician caught my ear back at the start of the year, and I’ve been waiting with baited breath for more new music ever since! He’s finally released his debut EP, Octopi, and it’s everything I’ve been hoping for.

By Jane Howkins

The first track is Every Body, a song we reviewed a few months ago. It’s actually The Drunk Astronomer’s debut single release, making it all the more impressive! It’s a dreamy pop song with a gorgeous vibe, seeing lots of synthlines swirl around in lovely style in the background. The vocals have a lovely, inviting sense of clarity, drawing you in instantly on this positive tune.

The Manager is similar to the previous track in some ways, although the tone is a little different. It’s much more melancholy, especially in terms of the main chord sequence chosen. It sounds fairly simplistic at first, but there’s a lot more going on here than first appears! The strings are particularly gorgeous, and I also really enjoyed the little guitar melodies on the instrumental parts.

El Gato is a track written for this artists son, written in the form of a children’s story. However, it’s still perfectly suitable for adults, as it’s something that people of all ages should enjoy. The dream-pop vibes really create something special here, as the vocals drift in lovely style through the music.

Her Hair (Is The Colour Of A Sunset) is the final track on Octopi, going back to the tone found on The Manager. It’s a really haunting piece of work, as the strings make a luscious soundscape in the background of the music. It’s actually got a bit of a psychedelic vibe at times, enveloping the listener in The Drunk Astronomer’s wonderful world.

The songwriting here is simply sublime, and it’s a real testament to The Drunk Astronomer’s skills how good the tracks on Octopi sound. Here’s hoping for more soon!

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