Irma Vep 'Embarrassed Landscape'

The new album from Irma Vep Embarrassed Landscape is out now from Gringo Records

Irma Vep is the alias of Edwin Stevens, a Glasgow based polymath musician, a man who has reached the potential now in his fourth album release.

Vep has garnered quite a reputation in recent years as a singular songwriter with immense confidence using a multitude of influences from across the musical spectrum to still sound like a unique voice.

From the outset, album opener 'King Kong' is as big a song you are likely hear as it is both bold, fresh and exciting.  It sets Stevens out as the sort of performer who has that intangible that you cannot measure - ambition. It is both brave and ballsy to open with a ten-minute track on any album, but it is neither grandiose nor showing off, it is a statement of intent to grab the listener from the beginning.

It continues in the next tracks which are more insular and reflective using violins and piano for atmosphere on 'Disaster' and 'Standards'.

More rockier numbers return with 'The Feeling is Gone' and 'Purring' which gives a balance to the open as a whole.

This album seems like the work Stevens has intended to make for several years, his growth as a person and artist has come to full fruition in the work of Embarrassed Landscape which is both a pleasure and privilege to witness.

Embarrassed Landscape is out now from Gringo Records.

My thanks to One Beat PR for the review opportunity.