8/10

Theo Kandel returns with 'Somewhere Along the Trail, Vol. 2', a sparse yet powerful three-track offering that places melody, memory, and meaning front and centre. The EP is a study in restraint; recorded live, unadorned, and emotionally unfiltered, it reveals an artist who understands the weight of leaving things unsaid.

Where Kandel’s previous full-length 'Eating And Drinking And Being In Love' dabbled in layered folk-pop and studio sheen, 'Vol. 2' strips it all away. What remains is his voice and a fingerpicked guitar that feels like it’s been with him through every chapter.

The standout 'Leroy’s Song' is a quiet tribute to his grandfather that resists sentimentality in favour of lived-in detail. The frontman paints a portrait of a man whose life may not have been loud, but whose presence echoes through generations. In an era obsessed with hustle and flash, this ballad becomes its own quiet rebellion.

Meanwhile, 'Stupid Funny Limbo' navigates the push and pull of long-distance affection with a mix of humour and heartache. And while his take on Richard Thompson’s '1952 Vincent Black Lightning' shows reverence for tradition, Kandel’s delivery is his own, refreshingly free of theatrics.

Across just three tracks, Theo Kandel manages to say quite a bit, and that a well-written line can carry more weight than a full string section could. 'Somewhere Along the Trail, Vol. 2' is an understated reminder that less is often more. And as he takes this release on the road this summer, including a long-awaited London appearance, the artist seems poised to continue his quiet ascent by reminding us of the simple beauty in restraint.