There's a picture of a piano on the cover of this debut album by Southampton one-man band Gang Colours (aka Will Ozanne). On the music stand sits the sheet music for Fur Elise, one of Beethoven's more famous tunes. And though this young production whiz and singer (he has one of those soothingly sleepy voices) is making music rooted in electronica, tracks such as Tissues and Fivers and I Don't Want You Calling have elements that are like modern-day Beethoven piano pieces. Or perhaps more like Chopin's sharper, more poignant piano preludes. Then there's the gentle fractures and fragility of Rollo's Ivory Tower (recorded on the piano that his grandad, Rollo, played as a child) which wouldn't sound out of place on a Kronos Quartet record.
But the dreamy whimsy he creates is also akin to fellow British beat conjurer James Blake, who released his slow burning self-titled debut last year, or something like the beautifully low-key beatscapes of Mount Kimbie.
Don't expect to be enthralled by The Keychain Collection straight away. It is understated - some might say docile - but as you sink deeper into the 10 tracks they just get better and start to open up. The pacy tranquillity of Botley in Bloom is like the sound of a submarine out on a joyride, To Repel Ghosts glides along in a delicious daze, and Fancy Restaurant finds Ozanne in soft rock-meets-R&B mode. Exquisite stuff.
Stars: 4/5
Verdict: Takes some time to let this downbeat debut sink in
-TimeOut
