Traquair lets the city bleed into new EP 'Held the Pulse'

On his latest collection 'Held the Pulse', Traquair looks to maintain the rough edges around his wondrous compositions. The Glasgow-based singer-songwriter’s new five-track EP has the feel of something caught between closing time and first light, where old conversations, half-formed hopes and the residue of another night begin to blur together.

Throughout this new offering, Stewart Traquair moves between psych-tinged indie, soul and a more classic singer-songwriter sensibility without ever making the transitions feel overly deliberate. The songs seem to arrive through instinct, carried by 12-string guitar, strong melodic writing and a vocal presence that suits the slightly worn, reflective atmosphere.

Opener ‘Girl, Your Mind Is a Dangerous Game’ is an early standout, built around a taut, uneasy pull that gives the song a hypnotic quality. While the title-track, ‘Held the Pulse’, opens the palette further with gospel-inflected touches, adding a sense of lift without losing the EP’s more introspective mood.

Roscoe Wilson’s production makes sure to give the songs enough room to breathe as well. There's detail in the arrangements, but they remain direct, with the performances carrying more weight than studio embellishment. It''s an approach that suits Traquair particularly well, allowing the psychedelic elements and soulful phrasing to emerge naturally from beginning to end.

There are also hints of faded glam, classic psych-pop and Scottish indie in the background, but 'Held the Pulse' works because it never feels overly defined by any of them. Traquair seems more interested in atmosphere, memory and emotional texture than in fitting neatly into a neat little box.

The result is a compact EP with a strong sense of identity. 'Held the Pulse' feels romantic without becoming sentimental, reflective without sinking into gloom, and familiar without sounding derivative. It's the work of a songwriter comfortable letting ambiguity remain in the frame.