★★★★

From its scrapbook style cover to the stories within, Louis Dunford’s ‘The Popham EP’ is all about the places we come from and the people that surround us.

The opening track, ‘My Generation’ cinematically sets the scene. Dunford speaks of walking past the constant queues outside the local food banks, single mothers struggling to support their families and teenagers forced to shift drugs just to chip in. It is a story that has become far too relatable in recent years and is reminiscent of Sam Fender’s recent album. The track eventually builds to an epic crescendo, and despite the refrain of ‘god only knows what we’re trying for’ you can sense the tinge of hope in Dunford's vocals, an indication of the resilience people are having to show in these current times daily.

‘Boys Do Cry’ is a reflective ballad that tackles the issue of men struggling to cope with depression, Dunford sings of a friend finding the courage to reach out, interpolating the track with his own difficulties. That key theme of hope once again is omnipresent throughout the track. Dunford has a gift for song structure and melodies, and this is the perfect example of his ability to tell a gripping narrative throughout his songs.

‘Summer in the Manor’ is a surprisingly sombre ode to sun-soaked teenage years spent causing chaos with friends throughout his childhood neighbourhood. Dunford has an impressive vocal range and it's put to great effect on The Popham EP, the brilliant piano-led ballad ‘Henry The Brave’ for instance shows a more delicate side to his tone.

‘Boss Man’ is a clever acoustic folk ode to the humble workers we frequently cross paths with on a night out, from the nightclub toilet attendant to the taxi drivers and corner shop workers. It’s a surprisingly earnest track dedicated to the people we only interact with whilst in a drunken haze. ‘The Angel’ softly closes out the EP with another reflective glance across the streets he's called his home through his life, its chorus seemingly destined for the end of night sing-a-longs, a perfect closing time at the pub anthem.

It's hard to pencil Dunford into a specific sound. There was a time when earnest singer-songwriters that represented their streets were all the rage in the '00s, such as Jamie T and Mike Skinner. Dunford offers a more folk-tinged sound with a greater sense of community with his writing than artists before him, he's definitely carving his own path however, it's fantastic to see the genre has a new torchbearer, keeping it alive and thriving in Dunford's hands

Overall, ‘The Popham’ EP is a great, cohesive collection of personal tales and experiences. Dunford’s personality shines brightly throughout and alongside his versatile tone, he has a brilliant ability to craft relatable stories that grip you into his world. Whilst there are slight variations in melodies, I’m excited to see the sort of directions he fleshes out his sound with on a larger body of work. There’s scope for some more anthemic rock to accompany his preference for balladry. Without a doubt, however, this is an EP and an artist you shouldn’t miss out on because Dunford is destined for success.