8/10

Over these last few years, Swedish artist Alex Runo has quickly established himself as one of the more dynamic names on the rise. Raised on a mixture of soul, gospel, rock, and blues, the frontman has brought this eclectic interest in sound to a wave of much-loved material since he first arrived, creating a sonic vision that truly breaks through the noise. And with a flurry of impactful offerings under his belt already, he now returns to the fold with his eagerly-awaited new EP 'Living & Breathing', a collection that builds upon those enigmatic foundations so far.

Right from the very start, 'Living & Breathing' elevates his chosen direction with some brilliantly adventurous production. Opening up with the gospel-inspired 'No Good Gone', with its Tom Morello-esque guitar hooks, the EP quickly shifts gears on its powerful title-track as he explores a more sombre and heartfelt aesthetic. It is this mixture of light and dark that has made Runo such an interesting character doing the rounds. Offering up euphoric anthems and tender serenades in equal measure, he highlights the raw and passionate nature of his material to date with flair and innovation here.

While plenty has already been said about his progressive run of releases, 'Living & Breathing' feels like his most inventive work yet. Brimming with this untethered structure to deliver some of his more diverse pursuits, Alex Runo continues to shine as one of the more captivating yet unpredictable artists currently rising through the ranks.