Blood Red – Yon Idy (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

I get a lot of music that would be termed “singer-songwriter” land on my desk. Much of it sounds the same. Usually, some gap-year troubadour in skinny jeans trying to sound like Ed Sheeran or, if I’m lucky,  David Gray. If more of these people sounded like Yon Idy, my working day would be more enjoyable.

Geography seems to play a large part in what sets Yon Idy apart, or at least musical cultural influences, his Macedonian homeland being subject to all manner of sonic evolution and infusions, everything from Eastern folk sounds to Mediterranean vibes, arabesque mystique to Western pop-rock forms. And because of this, Blood Red landed with me like a musical breath of fresh air. Evocative, intriguing, sun-kissed, spice-infused air.