Album Review: Vertigo, EDEN

Dublin dance maestro EDEN recently confessed that the prospect of releasing his debut album Vertigo is “terrifying, exciting and overwhelming”. Considering the amount of pressure currently placed on the young musician’s shoulders to crack the mainstream, I think most would forgive his collywobbles. Initially a bedroom producer, thanks to a brace of inventive EPs, the songsmith also known as Jonathon NG has cultivated an impressive online following.
The product of three years worth of blood, sweat and tears, his hotly anticipated debut is a stunning collection of indie-tinted future-pop. Introspective and utterly absorbing, it’s an arresting 13-track effort that demands repeat plays. Utilising everything from the sounds of broken bottles to glitchy beats, vocal manipulations and sci-fi synths, Vertigo is a dizzying listen. The prog-pop mash-up ‘Wings’ is a delicious, skeletal ballad; ‘Lost/Found’ deftly illustrates EDEN doesn’t have to rely on studio trickery to dazzle; and the heartbreaking ‘Crash’ – which sees him duet with himself thanks to a format shifter – is like nothing else you’ll hear all year. A star is born.
OUT NOW. (We interview EDEN for our upcoming issue, which is out on February 8.)

Rating: 8/10