In a world full of singer-songwriters trying to be the next Ed Sheeran, Rhodes is a breath of fresh air. His cinematic debut album, Wishes, solidifies his place in a genre where individuality is everything.

The introduction is foreseeing and establishes the themes of doubt and his questioning of himself as both an artist and person. The repetition of lines such as “I don’t want to fade away” add a growing sense of urgency and it is clear from the very beginning that Wishes is an album of honesty. The introduction transitions into debut single ’Close Your Eyes’ followed by the reappearance of moody ‘Raise Your Love’, previously released on Rhodes’ first EP. Other highlights come in the form of ‘You & I’, a slightly more stripped-back ballad, and the powerful ‘Your Soul’. Towards the end of the album, a duet with Birdy in ‘Let It All Go’ provides exactly what you’d expect from the pair: harmonies and high notes galore. After a brief interlude, the album finishes with title track ‘Wishes’, which creates a sense of conclusion and provides a fitting end.

The re-recording of multiple EP tracks makes Rhodes sound more polished than ever and there is clear progression from previous releases. One of the most enjoyable things about his past work is that each EP has a specific and distinctive sound but the length of the album can only dampen this effect. However, the tracks still fit well together and every song is instantly recognisable as one of his own, with most consisting of a similar structure. Quiet is a rarely used tool within music, but Rhodes’ carefully placed interludes provide continuity between songs and contribute to the album as a complete piece of work. Every song could be a soundtrack to a film; Wishes is an emotion-filled journey that is likely to earn Rhodes a successful career in the near future.

Catherine Dowie