By Matt Wellham
Label: Breakfast Records
Breakfast Records has a rather quirky but consistent crop of Bristolian talent on its books, and the label’s latest offering is no different. Step forward Ead Wood, the solo project of songwriter Ed Soles (Langkamer, Gork). After a run of singles, EPs, and last year’s debut album ‘Cash Mountain’, Ead Wood returns with another EP, ‘Wild Water’.
Taken from the same songwriting sessions as the previous album, ‘Wild Water’ once again plays around with introspective themes, though this time with a broader and more nuanced focus. It feels like a transitional bridge, a final, shimmering farewell to the ‘Cash Mountain’ era before Soles drifts into new territory.
The four-track EP kicks off with ‘Love A Little Better’, an eccentric, upbeat alt-country offering. Soles’ vocals are buttery smooth as he reels off lyrics focusing on life’s big responsibilities: working harder and loving better. This Americana-style track, infused with Ead Wood’s unique perspective, builds into a densely layered crash as the lyrics twist into an exploration of the fear of not being “good enough.”
‘Emmeline’ follows with a subtler, softer approach, examining the give-and-take of a relationship when one person always has one foot out the door. Soles explains that the track was written from his partner’s perspective during a heavy period of touring: “It’s about love, patience, and the quiet strength of the person who’s always there when you return.” The distant, acoustic outro is a deeply personal moment, offering the listener space to reflect on the commitments they may have let slip away.
‘Troubled Artist’ leans into a more modern sound, with a repetitive drum machine introducing the track before the acoustic slide guitar settles us back into Americana territory. It’s a slightly dreamy affair, where Soles’ doubled voice, reminiscent of Johnny Cash, reflects on the suffering so often associated with creativity. Interestingly, the track was inspired by a Lemonheads show, where Soles overheard fans romanticising Evan Dando’s past struggles while appearing disappointed by his sobriety. It’s a poignant critique of how we often demand “the tortured artist” trope at the expense of the artist’s actual wellbeing.
Closing out the EP is the title track, ‘Wild Water’, which returns to the alt-country tones introduced in the opener. While it’s an easy-listening, sing-along package, the lyrics bite; Soles rails against the pollution of UK waterways and the neglect of the natural environment. It’s the kind of track that will have Bristolians singing along proudly at any of the city’s independent venues. Between the soaring guitar solos, fuzzed-out riffs, and the swirling pedal steel of Rhodri Brooks, it brings the era to a close with one last buzz.
Recorded at Actiontrack Studios with producer Tim Rowing-Parker, Ead Wood’s ‘Wild Water’ is an effortless listen. Each track highlights the depth of Soles’ songwriting and his ability to walk the tightrope between surreal levity and earnest confession. As Ead Wood closes this chapter, we’re already excited to see what they have planned for the next.