Busselton singer-songwriter Mark Moule’s debut EP Only Love comes sincere with a pack of intimate, thoughtful, and deeply human songs. Drawing inspiration from emotionally driven storytellers like Cat Stevens and Phil Collins, Moule delivers an EP rooted in reflection, vulnerability, and the search for meaning amidst increasing bedlam.
Created alongside fellow local musician Andy McManus in a home studio setup, Only Love carries the charm of a genuine grassroots project. You can hear the learning curve and experimentation throughout the record, but oddly enough, that rough-around-the-edges quality works in its favor. The EP feels like late-night conversations turned into song before the feeling disappeared.
Opening track “Coming Down” eases listeners into the record with jittery cymbals that spark and shake against calm, mellow instrumentation. Moule’s thin, high voice drifts gently through the arrangement with a soothing steadiness that immediately sets the reflective tone of the EP. The song unfolds patiently, almost meditatively, allowing its emotional atmosphere to settle naturally.
The centerpiece, “Only Love,” feels like the emotional backbone of the project. Built around glistening acoustic guitar strums, soft percussion, and distant swelling strings, the song carries a quiet warmth that lingers long after it ends. Moule sings about modern exhaustion, survival, and emotional escape, urging listeners to “fly away from this game” while suggesting love remains the only true way forward. The lyrics are earnest without becoming preachy, and the dreamlike quality of the opening verse, inspired by an actual dream, gives the track an almost spiritual undercurrent.
Then there’s “Killer,” which shifts the mood into darker, more hypnotic territory. Moule sings about desperation, survival, and moral decay. He sings about “taking food from the dog” with surprising bite, hinting at the harsher realities.
What makes Only Love compelling is its authenticity. Mark Moule sounds like someone writing because he genuinely has something to say.
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Review by: Naomi Joan