GEORGE EZRA

Gold Rush Kid (Columbia)

George Ezra’s soft, husky tones hit the spot yet again on Gold Rush Kid, and as on previous albums, his easy-listening guitar style leaves you feeling enveloped in a warm, safe cocoon. You know what to expect. Single Green Green Grass, which opened his recent Platinum Jubilee performance, induced in me the desire to dance merrily, while the title track has unlikely echoes of All About That Bass within it (Radio 1, please have Meghan Trainor attempt a cover).

Elsewhere, Ezra is more melancholy and mellow, to the point where I ached for more summery melodies. Nevertheless, he grabs my attention – I can’t wait to find out if he has another highly amusing video containing a kindly wizard looking as dapper as Sir Ian McKellen.

Fun and playful as Ezra’s Gold Rush Kid is, aside from Green Green Grass this reviewer hears no further bangers with summer mega-repeat potential – but I’m more than ready to stand corrected.

words BILLIE INGRAM SOFOKLEOUS