You may know Brendan Maclean as a Triple J presenter, or perhaps even from Channel V’s search for a presenter or B430 blogger. You may even know him from his youtube videos, covering songs that range from Claire Bowditch to Rebecca Black. However what Brendan Maclean should be most known for is his original music – White Canvas, his 2010 EP, proves exactly how talented he is as a lyricist and musician.

The five track EP showcases Maclean’s versatility as a singer and songwriter with jazz, acoustic and pop-rock influences all thrown in for good measure. Maclean’s vocals jump effortlessly from breathy lower notes, to emotionally charged higher ones, showcased perfectly in title track "White Canvas".

Maclean’s jazzy vocals add a diverse element to the usual folky or acoustic singer-songwriter music that has become increasinly popular, with his songs sprinkled with harmonies and prominent, jaunty piano notes. Songs such as "Practically Wasted" and "Stop" will have you tapping your toes and clicking your fingers while the melancholy "Beat Me To It" provides a more emotionally charged listening experience, with Maclean’s vocals soaring effortlessly over the top of the tinkling piano and slow strings.

White Canvas is not only an enjoyable listening experience, it’s a journey. From the opening bars of the edgy and distorted "Practically Wasted" with its dramatic shifts in melody and instrumentation to the sombre closing "White Canvas", Maclean has crafted a simply stunningly diverse EP, showcasing his instrumental skills, flawless vocals and eclectically brilliant lyrics all in under 20 minutes.

White Canvas is a cleverly crafted EP with not a single bad song in sight. With a rollercoaster of emotions the EP offers listeners an insight into Brendan Maclean the man and the musician – not just the witty presenter and avid tweeter that some of us may know him as. This EP is a teasing glance at the talents Maclean has to offer, and hopefully we’ll be hearing more from him in this creative medium sooner rather than later.

Review score: 8.5/10

Image: samuelwebster.com