I’m utterly impressed and even a bit shocked that this is a debut album. Keaton Henson’s Dear… is completely relatable and couldn’t have come into my life at a better time. There’s something about his simple, trembling vocals that evokes a pleasant, unending combination of butterflies and knots in my stomach. The album makes me want to laugh and cry simultaneously, and Henson’s somber guitar playing is the perfect accompaniment to his achingly sober lyrics.

Dear…, mainly centered on relationships and the struggles they entail, is very thematically cohesive. Beginning with the opening track, “You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are”, his music builds in intensity, hitting where it hurts in a very admirable way. The track’s bent and broken guitar strumming, combined with the gentle organ background accents, incorporates a subtle yet powerful simplicity to the instrumentation.

“Small Hands” is definitely my favourite track on the album. His voice has an especially pronounced shakiness that resonates down to the core of the music, lyrically mixing optimism and stoic regret. That song flows incredibly well into “Flesh and Bone”, an equally moving track with immense depth but softer accompanying electric guitar. Featuring a more structured style, this is likely one of the most accessible tracks on the album. With the addition of a solid kick drum and hopeful lyrics, “Sarah Minor” and “Nests” balance out the release with their upbeat nature.

“Party Song” the closing track, impresses with a haunting quality and truly beautiful harmonies. Keeping in line with the intro, the birds and other subtle sounds in the background have a lulling quality that highlights Henson’s voice extremely well.

Keaton Henson’s, Dear…, will be in my music library indefinitely.  I can see myself turning to it again and again, loving it just as much, if not more, with each listen.