Ed Sheeran’s Plus – Review

Unknown a year ago and couch-surfing for six years while incessantly gigging, putting out new music  and building a fan base, Ed Sheeran finds himself nominated for four BRITS with his chart topping album +. The ginger phenomenon who stands alone on stage with his guitar and a loop pedal starts this album with the debut number three single ‘The A Team,’ which features Mikill Pane and previously appeared on his EP, “No.5 Collaborations  Project.” Sheeran’s trademark folk-hop styles of strummed acoustic guitar and looped beat are most simply laid out in “Drunk.” The album slows down with ‘Wake Me Up’ that has devotional lines wrapped in the sparse of piano chords. ‘Kiss Me’ has a slow, warm touch to the album with echoes of Van Morrison in an unusually open mood. It’s the darker side of Sheeran that furnishes the more potent tracks. “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You” shows his nimble hip-hop and slick R&B groove. The album finishes with the track Give Me Love which brings out his folk root, it’s quite lengthy but equally an exhilaratingly primal.
With this outstanding album, Ed Sheeran deserves to win the British Album of the Year award.

By Lucee Clarke

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