Mark Elliott - Maybe She Will EP (Self-Released)

The Maybe She Will EP opens with the title track. It's lit up by tinges of funk-blues guitar, the impeccable voice of Elliott and skittering drum beats – being the percussionist for local act Humble He has really proved valuable here, and the rhythm isn't left by the wayside. It's a focal part of the music. 'Fool For Loving You' kicks off as an a cappella bouquet, with layers upon layers of voices adding a new note, a new tone. The obliquely synthetic drum machines add a new dimension to the singer-songwriter dynamic, an electronic timbre that simply gels with the quasi-gospel vocals. Elliott's voice really stands out here.

However, regardless of how good the EP is as a whole, there is one track that truly stands out. 'Pay For Now' imjects thwomping bass kicks, handclaps and luscious belts of distortion to sculpt an epic dancefloor stampede. It's a bit post-rock in its structure, there's a well-timed rap (courtesy of Curtis Clacey) and the space between notes/instrumentation dropping out only serves to heighten the anthemic nature of the cut. It's got chart-friendly dubstep wubwubwubbing, classic rock guitar soloing. What's not to like?

Like a good EP should, he showcases all his best features, safely. A full-length will give him the space to full spread his wings and fully whip out his avante-garde tendencies. Elliott is a tiny fish in a massive lake. Singer-songwriters come ten a penny. But he's set himself apart, demonstrating a versatility and a glorious facet for experimentation that will ensure he has a way to navigate himself through the murky myriad of James Morrison's and Paolo Nutini's.