Dove Ellis: Blizzard [Album Review]

Dove Ellis
Blizzard
AMF/Black Butter Records [2025]

“A stunning first step from an artist poised to be one of 2026’s breakout voices.”

Album Overview: Dove Ellis grew up in Galway, standing at the shoreline and imagining the world beyond it. That early mix of wonder and unease followed him to Manchester, where he quietly built a following through Bandcamp uploads and small-room shows. With little interest in chasing attention, he let the songs travel on their own, catching the ears of labels while he stayed focused on the work.

His first US tour supporting Geese brought him to a bigger stage and set up Blizzard, a debut that captures the 22-year old Ellis at a crossroads where possibility and pressure sit side by side. The album feels like a young artist taking his first big step and trying to understand the space he wants to inhabit. Songs swing from hushed reflection to wide-open emotional release, shifting between spare acoustic setups and fuller arrangements that mirror his expanding world. Instead of presenting a polished self-portrait, Blizzard plays like a snapshot of someone still figuring out the shape of their future—and letting listeners hear that process in real time.

Musical Style: Ellis threads folk foundations through flashes of art rock, chamber pop, and modern indie experimentation. His voice often drives the arrangement, bending and stretching like an instrument of its own. Acoustic guitar, reeds, piano, and subtle percussion drift in and out, adding movement without weighing the melodies down. The result lands somewhere between intimate storytelling and exploratory composition—music that feels handmade yet adventurous.

Evolution of Sound: Across Blizzard, Ellis moves from quiet, close-mic’d arrangements into pieces that bloom with layers. Early tracks stick to open space and simple structures before the record begins to twist into new shapes. “Jaundice” nods to his Irish roots with a traditional jig-like opening before pivoting into something brighter, while “Heaven Has No Wings” adds textures that hint at a more forward-looking direction. By the closing stretch, you can hear him pushing at the edges of what his writing and voice can hold.

Artists with Similar Fire: Ellis draws comparisons to Jeff and Tim Buckley thanks to the way he shifts from soft murmurs to sudden bursts of power. You might also catch hints of Thom Yorke, Glen Hansard, Rufus Wainwright, and the dynamic, conversational energy of Black Country, New Road. Some of his phrasing recalls Nick Drake or Joan Armatrading, while a few arrangements move with the spirited lift of early Van Morrison.

Pivotal Tracks: “Pale Song” shines with its warm build and steady rise toward release. “Little Left Hope” opens the record with quiet restraint before swelling into something far bigger, setting the emotional tone. “When I Tie Your Hair Up” delivers one of Ellis’s most striking vocal performances, balancing vulnerability with resolve. “Jaundice” highlights his roots with its lively opening before shifting into an upbeat foot-tapper that sticks with you. Together, these tracks sketch the full emotional and musical range of Blizzard.

Lyrical Strength: Ellis writes with a loose, impressionistic touch, letting listeners step into the emotional frame without spelling out every detail. His lyrics move between tenderness, doubt, and clear-eyed honesty, often using imagery tied to growth, distance, and the pull between home and what comes next. Even when the meaning feels open-ended, the emotional hit lands—and many lines linger long after the final note fades.

Final Groove: Blizzard is a debut that feels both grounded and full of potential. Ellis offers songs that glow with ambition but never lose their sense of intimacy, making the record easy to connect with even as it reaches for bigger emotional peaks. His voice alone puts Ellis on a different level as Blizzard is the kind of album that hints at an artist just beginning to tap into what he can do. If this is where Ellis starts, the next chapter should be even more gripping—and definitely worth following.

DOVE ELLIS LINKS
Instagram | Bandcamp | AMF Records | Black Butter Records