Gustaffson drops brand new debut record

Gustaffson is a musical project that was founded in 2020 by Liverpool-born singer and songwriter Andrew Gower alongside longtime friend and guitarist James Webster, channelling a cinematic sound that reflects Andrew’s dual life in both music and acting. Though he’s been writing music since the age of 15, many know him for his performances in Black Mirror, Outlander and Carnival Row with his ability to bring characters to life on screen naturally translating into songwriting.

While working on a film set, Gower crossed paths with Elbow’s Craig Potter, sparking a creative partnership that would go on to inform Gustaffson’s sound. The band’s debut EP, The Jacaranda, arrived in 2022, recorded at Blue Print Studios in Manchester and featuring a lineup with David Gleave on bass, Graham Bennett on drums and Liam Morson on keys. The release quickly planted the band on the map of must watch new acts, earning Record of the Week status on Guy Garvey’s Finest Hour on BBC Radio 6.

Following that momentum, the band began crafting their debut full-length album, Black & White Movie, with Potter returning as producer. Over the course of the sessions, they brought in an impressive cast of collaborators, including Emmy-winning composer Bear McCreary and iconic actor Sir Ben Kingsley. Following a string of critically acclaimed single releases which built up the anticipation for the record via extensive radio support, Gustaffson now brings us their debut LP.

Across thirteen tracks, the album presents a collection of sonic vignettes, where Andrew’s lyrics, sharpened over years of embodying complex roles on screen, bring together light and shadow, crafting musical moments that feel at once profoundly personal and relatable. The record blends vintage influences with a modern aesthetic, serving up a stunning fusion of rock, blues, soul and pop that distils a timeless sound filtered through the band’s cutting edge sonic lens. By merging filmic grandeur with classic songwriting, Gustaffson offers something rare; an album that plays like a series of short films, where music and stories become inseparable.

Opened by the steady strike of drums on “Champagne Socialist,” a slick groove of fuzzy guitars and pulsing bass lines in met by Andrew Gower’s rich voice as he spins engaging melodic leads above the bold stabs and intricate rolls of the instrumentation. Lifted by soulful backing vocals, his impassioned voice soars while the steady snap of drums and smooth ebb and flow of the arrangement makes for a gripping and instantly memorable jam.

“Closer” follows with dreamy piano flutters and softly tapped percussion as Andrew’s emotive vocals drift above gentle guitar rhythms. Flowing with bursts of dazzling sonic swells, the track builds to the album’s first feature where revered actor Sir Ben Kingsley voice applies a hazy spoken word passage to add an intriguing bridge before Andrew’s alluring vocals enter for the rousing finale.

The album’s lead single “On Broadway” brings warm brass tones and muted guitar plucks, before Andrew’s compelling vocal work ushers in a mellow groove of enduring bluesy rock. Shot in black and white, the track’s video stars Daniel Ings from Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen, where the band are seen performing on stage cut with shots of Daniel’s spirited performance taking Andrew’s place to deliver a gripping visual pairing for the song.

Another highlight comes with “Flowers” featuring Emmy Award-winning American composer Bear McCreary who joins Gustaffson on an elegant piano-driven ballad. With Andrew’s incredible voice floating above a graceful arrangement of piano, guitar and strings, he casts a spellbinding listening experience that gently builds with laid back percussion, resulting in an enchanting sound brimming with songwriting charm and performance panache. “Flowers” is also accompanied by a music video directed by Myriam Raja of Top Boy, bringing the song alive on screen via a cinematic offering that plays out between a pub and dance stage.

With other memorable moments coming with songs like “Paris In Summer,” where lively rhythmic shuffles are capped by upbeat vocals to deliver a delightful and buoyant pop-focused outing, “Night People” serves up another stellar showcase of Gustaffson’s heartfelt songwriting via a misty, soul-tinged piece. Closing the record with “Northern Baby,” the punchy patter of drums and warm textures of piano, plodding bass notes and graceful strings, Andrew’s enticing voice threads gorgeous melodic leads above to offer a spectacular final moment on Gustaffson truly sensational debut album.

Listen to Black & White Movie below