Paul Melia aims to impress on his debut

This album has been on my radar since his single (Lights in the sand) arrived in my inbox a few months back. To be honest I wasn't too gone on the single, which sounded like every other Indie act out there trying to climb the ladder with little of their own unique sound offerings, so the album I was up in arms about...

Fortunately enough I was wrong. 

It is a slow grower. Intelligent and sophisticated, Melia's music draws from many sources- classical, electronic, acoustic, pop... the list goes on. Although opener and the title track and name of the album 'Hold Onto Colours' sounds like an out-of-date track that missed out on making it onto an episode of Dawsons Creek, the rest of the album contains stronger tracks that draw you in and utterly impress.

Such as the stripped back tracks which soflty introduce just the voice and piano - Melia's strongpoint. This we see in the absolutely stunning Miss You, with its lingering intro and gradual build to its beautiful string section in the middle. It is a superb song that surprises and makes up for any doubt you may have on this multi faceted singer songwriter. His musicality alone in this track embodies the entire album. This would be a great track for radio, especially leading into the Christmas market when you see families reunited at the Airport. After I finished listening to that, on REPEAT, the album began to impress more and more. It is a mixed lucky bag, with some sweets you will like, love and others you will leave there until you have relished on the others. But all in all a superb debut album well worth listening to again, and again and again. Oh and AGAIN.

Listen to: Miss You and Shelter from my Mind.