Rob Finlay returns with a spectacular new EP, Sunset | Darkness | Sunrise, a concept record charting the arc of a relationship from its euphoric beginning to its heartbreaking end. What makes this collection especially powerful is its focus on a first love, with all the wide-eyed wonder and raw vulnerability that entails.
The opening track “All Eyes Surrender” begins with Finlay’s voice, smooth, rich, and immediately captivating. His vocal texture alone pulls the listener into a world of poetic, emotionally nuanced lyrics. Bright electric guitar riffs weave around the warmth of an acoustic guitar bed, creating a rich sonic soundscape. As the song builds, Finlay’s delivery grows more urgent, and more passionate. “All eyes surrender on me, when I was with her all eyes were on me,” he sings, a lyric that echoes with longing and memory. The track draws from his time living in an old Victorian mansion while studying at Bristol University, capturing the surreal magic of a new romance unfolding in an almost cinematic setting. She is his first love.
“Afterglow” picks up where the first track leaves off, carrying the storyline forward. The energy rises slightly, but lyrically, the mood shifts. The relationship is ending, and the emotional weight hits hard. Losing a first love is one of the most devastating heartbreaks of one’s youth, and Finlay channels that ache with clarity. Led by acoustic guitar, his vocals ache with tenderness and grief as he reflects on the beauty of what once was. “Hold on to the afterglow,” he pleads, a line that’s as catchy as it is devastating. His performance is saturated with tenderness, making it one of the EP’s most memorable moments.
The sorrow deepens on “Ballerina,” a haunting ballad enriched by the introduction of piano. The keys add a bright shimmer over the strum of acoustic guitar, while fiddle, slide guitar, and a low-toned electric bring a touch of country influence into the mix. There’s a dreamlike quality to this track, rooted in obsession and memory. Though the relationship is over, she remains Finlay’s muse, on his mind forever, and very much alive in his songs. The love hasn’t faded. It has simply transformed. The song balances beauty and melancholy with grace.
“In White” brings the story full circle, flashing back to the very beginning. There’s a buoyant tenderness in Finlay’s voice here, capturing the pure joy of new love. The rhythmic, hook-heavy chorus is instantly engaging, while the lyrics catalog the major “firsts” of the relationship: “first kiss, first fight, first love, first night, first dance.” The bass line in this track deserves special mention. Warm, rich, and grounding, it adds a depth to the mix that ties the whole thing together. The song culminates at the wedding: “You’re in white, love of my life.” It’s the emotional climax of the EP. Joyful, nostalgic, and deeply heartfelt.
Enjoy the EP on Spotify now:
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Written by Ryan Cassata
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