luke donovan

Fans of The Beatles, the Beach Boys or James Blunt would be very impressed with Luke Donovan’s work. Even those who aren’t fans of those bands should spend a little time over at Luke’s place. Apart from being aesthetically pleasing on the eye, it won’t do the ear any harm either. Southampton’s Donovan has a wonderfully soft voice. The harmonies, subtle backing and Eva Cassidy-style guitar work all compliment his singing beautifully, creating music that actually breathes. This, coupled with his lyric-writing ability and well-rounded image, make him an inspiring artist. ‘Butterfly’, my personal favourite, starts with a harmonious vocal accompanied by a single guitar. With a catchy melody and soft, flowing rhythm the intro soon has you humming along before it launches into a more upbeat section then filters out with more gentle, calming harmonies. The tune ‘Dig You’, another great track, has a more country feel to it - further smooth vocals and a refrain that sets your foot off on an involuntary beat-matching tap. However, before you really know where you are, the song finishes abruptly, leaving a want for more; a want fulfilled by any of Donovan’s other work. The effects Donovan employs to enhance the beauty of the basic tunes, including strings and flutes in the background, really helps add a dimension that lifts the listener above the music. It is indeed rather hard to find fault in any of his music, other than the fact that the songs could be a little longer, to postpone your departure from the wonderful place to which you are taken. - The Fly, Wessex, by Elton Bear

Luke's songs have a charming, endearing quality, pastoral some would
say, swimming in the same waters as Belle & Sebastian, Elliot Smith,
doffing a cap toward Beatles and Beach Boys, maybe even a little Badly
Drawn Boy circa his first four EPs before he went all 'About A Boy'.
Hand claps, nice little sound effects, a fair bit of invention, but
always a song at the heart of it all. Aye. I like this. A&R men, get
off your arses and take a listen. Ditto musicians who like what they
hear. And the rest of you, drop him an email, tell him what you think,
ask when he's playing, go along, say hello, buy the laddie a drink. - Andy Inglis, Fly Mag(national edition)