Neil Milton - Elements

How much do our surroundings influence what we do and the way we think? Artists, whatever their field of expertise may be, often spend a great deal of time trying to find a particular place where their minds feel rested, free, able to perform to the fullest of their capabilities.

I’m not sure whether Neil Milton left Scotland because he needed to see new horizons or for other motives, but his new home, Poland, must be making him feel more and more comfortable, as his latest EP proves.

Elements comprises of five tracks titled after each element, and so it begins with Air (Or The Dragonfly), a subtle composition characterised by the fluttering string arrangements, which seem to imitate the flapping wings of a dragonfly. Simple, sober and minimalistic, Neil drops the ambient genre to dive into a more classic approach. The comparisons to Icelanders such as Olafur Arnalds are therefore no longer applicable, but it seems it can only be a good thing as he quickly adapts and creates his own style, it is already a half reality of a strong promise.

In Water (Or Between Rocks and the Sea), things pick up rather quickly and with great power, the track starts from the very first second with great fury and raw emotionality, it all flows rather well from the string arrangements to the lone piano and then the combination of both. It sounds incredibly mature and it’s exactly this the sort of thing that this man needs to continue doing.

The short EP (only 18 minutes) comes to an end with class and style, forgetting all sorts of ribbons and decorations, leaving the spotlight to the piano. Its power and beauty will definitely pull you in, it will ask you for repeated listens and will beg for more. This is Elements, by Neil Milton.