Dove Ellis – ‘Blizzard’ album review: an astounding debut the follows feeling
Writing about Dove Ellis in any typical fashion is almost impossible, by the artist’s own design. He shuns interviews, there’s little to no biographical information out there, and his social media is sparse. It’s all left to the music, and on his debut album, Blizzard, that purity is a gift.
The Skinny: It has only been a few months since Ellis released his debut single. ‘To The Sandals’ landed as a mystery to all but the lucky audiences who had caught him gigging about and had fallen in as early members of the cult. However, after the staggering beauty of that song was heard, things moved quick – the Irish artist was granted the mythical ‘next big thing’ badge, set off on tour supporting Geese and yet stayed on course as the eyes on him grew.
It must be tempting to go off the deep end when you find yourself as the next one to watch the music world seems to be buzzing over. Ellis could easily have gone all in with a million interviews and cover stories, cashing in on the powerful co-signs he’s received to become the latest act who’s gone from the Windmill to total stardom in only a few months. But his reserve only makes Blizzard all the more beautiful, offered out with a stunning purity and its mystery still intact.
As Ellis seems to want, I’ll talk only about the music now, dropping any interest or care in the man behind it.
When a sound is beautiful and hits just right, it makes you gasp. You hear that in truly special moments at gigs, and that’s when you know you’re witnessing something magical. Here, I could gasp at every song as Ellis’s vocals range from Jeff Buckley’s velvet richness to Thom Yorke’s howls, depth with Leonard Cohen’s poetic delivery, and a lilt of Irish twang.
Sonically, the dynamics keep the goosebumps raised high, too, as it moves from the clear influence of traditional Irish music on a dancing song like ‘Jaundice’, to bigger rock moments elsewhere, and even the bravery to drop a Christmas song in there as well.
There is a lot at play here, a lot to chew through with some incredible lyrical moments that catch out and make you want to rewind. But the thing that comes through clearest from start to finish on Blizzard is the obvious fact that this is an album led by feeling.
Every decision seems to follow that, as any climaxes or crescendos feel so natural, as if Ellis is merely following the emotional line up and down through its waves. ‘When You Tie Your Hair Up’ shows that best, as even that simple title makes my heart flutter, setting it ablaze by the time Ellis is wailing like Buckley on Grace.
The Verdict: Comparisons to other musicians often feel limiting, but Buckley keeps coming back. It’s not just that both sing with voices overflowing with emotion. It’s here, on Blizzard, Ellis is delivering the same kind of flawless debut as Buckley did – one that brings hype to reality but still screams of future promise, like a prophecy is both being fulfilled and only just beginning.
Defining track: ‘When You Tie Your Hair Up’
Release date: December 5th, 2025 | Producer: Dove Ellis | Label: Black Butter/AMF Records
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