Almost a decade since his last project, Rob Finlay returns with a new EP, Sunset | Darkness | Sunrise. The four-track EP puts forth heartfelt songs that take listeners on a musical and literal journey. Sunset | Darkness | Sunrise is chock-full of emotive, resonating records that explore love and all its intricacies, loss, and redemption.

Sunset | Darkness | Sunrise kicks off with the vulnerable piece, “All Eyes Surrender.” The track has a somber yet hopeful tone. The stripped back sound of the song allows Rob Finlay’s vocal timbre to shine. Track two, “Afterglow,” serves as the EP’s lead single. The storytelling within the record is powerful. The harmonies in “Afterglow” make the song that much more captivating. The penultimate song, “Ballerina,” is the follow-up single. The soothing sound of the song grows as the track continues. The chorus showcases a slew of instruments, upping the energy of the record and providing a sing-along chorus. The finale, “In White,” features an epic breakdown. The song describes the beauty of love and is the perfect closer as it closes the EP on a positive note.

What makes the EP even more fascinating is that the crooner has permanent sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL), so to make such a tuneful project is impressive to say the least. Just like the titular’s phases, Sunset | Darkness | Sunrise takes listeners on a roller coaster of emotions; it’s poignant, beautiful, melancholic, cheerful, and everything in-between. The masterful project is one that listeners will surely play from sunset to sunrise.

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