If there was any music trend that particularly stood out for me in 2017 it was that of members from established bands branching out and releasing solo work every bit as engaging, and sometimes even more so, than their previous work within the band. The debut release from Lokki seems a sure sign of that trend continuing well into 2018. This new project from Drew McFarlane of Glass Animals fame sees him exploring new horizons with the debut EP Cirrhi. The title track has a mystical feel to it, and you can just imagine the tune being carried through a forest on the mist, daring you to delve deeper. The timeless elegance of ‘Breathe A Breath Of Me’ has a few hints of The Beatles and is fleshed out beautifully by the addition of a choir, and the sweet and simple style of ‘I Catch You’ is reminiscent of the golden age of singer/songwriters, recalling the likes of James Taylor and Carole King. The androgynous inflections found in closing track ‘The Night’ really serves to showcase Drew’s range and versatility, and supplements his piano work with a smooth swell of strings. Even down to the artwork, everything points to Lokki being a project that is here to delight us for a long while to come.

Fans of Sampha, The Last Dinosaur, Flyte and London Grammar should check out Lokki’s debut EP Cirrhi