Ed Sheeran – Play

Opening; Sapphire; Azizam; Old Phone; Symmetry; Camera; In Other Words; A Little More; Slowly: Don’t Look Down; The Vow; For Always; Heaven

(Atlantic)

On his eighth album, Play, Ed Sheeran serves up another dose of memorable songs – the template remains the same of mainly pop ballads and a few surprises; the formula has made him one of the biggest artists to emerge from Britain over the last two decades.

The few diversions that there are come via Azizam, where an Asian rhythm undercuts the track. Sapphire continues in that tradition due in no small part to Iranian-Swedish producer Ilya and help from the Indian pop star Arijit Singh. Symmetry likewise comes with a thumping beat that draws you from your armchair with a chorus that is sung in Hindi. Apparently, Sheeran went to Goa to complete the album – close your eyes and you can almost feel the warmth of the subcontinent on these tracks.

The co-write with dance act Fred Again on Don’t Look Down sees Sheeran’s vocals set against a house music beat, a feat you would have never imagined from Sheeran ten years ago. Whatever you think of his diversions into different genres, Sheeran is trying to come out of his comfort zone and mostly succeeds.Old Phone has already been released as a single – the song is as commercial as they come, whilst In Other Words seems destined to become another of his songs that are played at a wedding reception as the groom and bride take to the dancefloor.

Overall the sound is glossy and pristine, with the album probably becoming one of the best-selling new albums of the year – and rightly so.