You could buy one of millions of self-help books to work through the state of the world as it is right now, or you could spend the equivalent of one, maybe two of those books, books that probably won’t give you the lift, the empowerment, or belief that the debut album from Liverpool artist Earth-o-Naut will give you.
In a world that can feel increasingly fractured, this record arrives like a hand extended in the dark.
Having reviewed a couple of the tracks that feature on the album, I wasn’t sure whether to expect more of the same excellent musical talent or something different. I was pleasantly surprised by how the songs already released were woven so perfectly into the other soul, jazz and funk creations here, familiar voices in and amongst a richer, wider collection.
The tracks are arranged for the perfect gentle balance of strength and belief in yourself, and the reminder that, in truth, there is little more needed to make the world a better place than music and love, a sentiment that feels earned and necessary.
The album opens with two strong, lively tracks launching straight into a funk vibe with electronic keyboards, wah-wah guitar riffs, catchy drum sequences and the signature brass accompaniments. ‘Come Out Swinging’, the second track, in particular, is one to get out of bed to every morning, driving self-confidence, almost a boxing anthem in feel. For me, the intro and underlying beat carry the spirit of South African Gumboot dancing; full of power, community, resistance and solidarity, an echo that feels like it’s no accident, with a quietly social conscious soul running through the album, a belief that music has always been, and must remain, a vehicle for collective strength and human resilience.
After the initial exhilaration of the opening tracks, the mood relaxes, allowing us the chance to recline into romantic, soulful vocals, a frequent and welcome mood alongside the more energy-driven tracks on the record. This is reflected beautifully in ‘o.n.l.y.l.o.v.e’, a short, ethereal soundscape that acts as the album’s emotional midpoint. More than just an interlude, it echoes the overarching theme of the record and showcases the perhaps surprising versatility of Earth-o-Naut’s vocal talent, delicate, unhurried, and quietly profound.
In amongst the juxtaposed uplifting and soul-reflecting musical talent encapsulated within this album, there are tracks that bring Earth-o-Naut back down to earth, asking the existential questions that surely we, as everyday humans, ask at various times; reflecting our despair with the world right now, the need for courage to face the day, and the wisdom to stay true to what we know is right. ‘Am I Really Here?’ is rich with a deep bass and drum melody, alongside funky guitar leads. ‘Please’, by contrast, is more down-tempo, a stunning drum line, swinging keyboards and soulful vocals reminiscent of a more contemplative, jazz-inflected Doors number. The finish of the track offers echoes of a book or perhaps the door to the church of music being closed; a staccato moment of grace before we gather ourselves and move on. There is something almost devotional in its atmosphere, a congregation of one or many, finding contemplative stillness.
That spiritual thread is one of the album’s most distinctive and moving qualities. It surfaces in the gospel undertones of the title track, in the “Oh Lord” of ‘Come Out Swinging’, in the sense throughout that Earth-o-Naut is not simply making music but bearing witness to love, to struggle, to the stubborn human need to believe in something. This is not religion per se, so much as it is faith in people, in community, in connection, in the quiet radical act of choosing joy and solidarity over cynicism and despair.
It was clearly a considered decision to release the tracks that have already been received so well by radio stations and listeners alike, ones that introduce the positioning of Earth-o-Naut as an artist and the tone and musicality they bring to their audience. But those released tracks, as good as they are, for me are just the tip of the iceberg. The album as a whole is a remarkable invitation to stand up and be counted, to dance, love, and celebrate; something that has been at the core of humanity through the ages.
The final third brings all of these sentiments together, kicking off with another interlude, this time a much more disco-flavoured pulse that surely has remix potential written all over it, before ‘Everything. All At Once. All Of The Time’ arrives like a wide-open declaration of floaty blues and jazz, earnest and fully absorbed in the world around us, in loved ones, in life itself.
The final track, and the album’s title, ‘This Is Nowhere. This Is Everywhere.’ brings the record to its glorious, gospel R&B-tinged climax. The lyrics ‘feel the pull and feel the swing’ reflect the ambience of the song and the journey of the album in its entirety; the tension between the world as it is and the world as it could be, between despair and defiance, between being lost and being found.
Earth-o-Naut’s final word says everything; “only love can lift us above.”
Listen. Take note. And let’s make the world a better place.
‘This Is Nowhere. This Is Everywhere.’ is now available on all streaming platforms and available to buy digitally and on vinyl (while stocks last) via Agogo Records on Bandcamp.
29th May 2026