7/10

Throughout these last few years, Mark "The Ram" O'Donnell has been quick to establish himself as one of the more innovative characters doing the rounds. Exploring this heady mix of psychedelic and blues-inspired aesthetics in which to create this distinctive direction for himself, his tenure to date has been filled with broad and emotive delights, all looking to build upon what has come before. And after another standout year within his career, he is back once again with his 'Space Cowboy' EP, a release that continues that breezy pursuit of his.

Featuring the original recording, alongside live and acoustic renditions, as well as instrumental versions of the offerings, 'Space Cowboy' perfectly highlights the dynamic approach he has taken to songwriting and production over the years. Showcasing the diversity within his material by unveiling a varied number of reworkings has been his preferred method of new music delivery in recent years, but these new performances make for some of his most eclectic so far. Adopting a wildly engaging array of instrumentation in which to create his latest work, The Ram continues to reinvent himself across each of these new outings.

While his 2024 has certainly been one of his more impactful years to date, 'Space Cowboy' shows that there is still plenty of adventurous spirit coursing through him right now. Brimming with such a flair and finesse at every turn, he remains one of our favourite names on the rise right now.