Erewän - 2025 - Soul Is the Key

(60:00; Erewän)






















Erewän is a singer-songwriter from Nice in France, and here he has returned with his second album, following from 2021’s ‘How Will All This End’. In many ways this is prog folk with influences here and there from Celtic, film scores, New Age, Ambient etc. Opening track “Greetings From Slumberland” reminds me somewhat of Iona, and I was really enjoying this instrumental as while it does somewhat meander along it is definitely pleasant with flute, mandolin and other instruments combining with the electric guitar to provide plenty of layers and support.

I thought this was setting the scene for the rest of the album, but sadly this was the highlight, and it went downhill from there with far less emphasis on Celtic and more of prog folk with little direction. The main reason for my lack of enjoyment is that while Erewän is obviously a good musician who can write enjoyable material, he is not a very good singer, or at least his voice is an acquired taste which I do not appreciate. It is not his accent so much, he is a Frenchman singing in English after all, but the quality of his vocals which I have an issue with. This had a huge impact on my enjoyment of the album, but I am also aware that this will always be down to personal taste, so what I will say is that this is a pleasant but never earth shattering release, but is one which needs to be listened to prior to purchase in case you have the same aversion to the vocals as I. 

Kev Rowland, February 2026

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Erewanproject

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