Live Acoustic at Blueprint Studios
Sometimes is less really is more?
You don’t need stacks of gear, layers of glitz and glamour or studio wizardry to make something that matters or something to feel. Sometimes all it takes is a guitar, a voice, and something worth saying with
passion and heart — and that’s exactly what Manchester’s Gustaffson have delivered here.
Fresh off the back of a summer playing intimate shows in record shops up and down the country, Gower and co headed home to Blueprint Studios to revisit tracks from their stunning debut album Black & White Movie. And honestly? It feels like coming home.
Directed by Steffany ‘Freda’ Collette, the video is beautifully simple. No stage, no lights, pamp, just two musicians in a room, playing a song. Just like wearing your heart on your sleeve, it strips everything right back, giving us a glimpse of what these songs might have sounded like in those quiet moments back stage or that time out moment just being yourself when they were first written. There’s something really special about that damn right; it’s intimate and unique.
At its core, “Closer” is a gentle push we all need. It calls out the quiet irony of modern life — that we’ve never been more digitally connected and reliant, yet somehow never felt further apart from the people right beside us are we just in a bubble.
It doesn’t preach to you or gets rammed down your throat, It just quietly says: put the phone down. Look up. Be here now. I’m here And somehow that lands so much harder.
Andrew Gower’s vocals are gorgeous and he has always had a place with me from the first interview back in 2023 at Night and Day Cafe his vocals are warm, honest, and completely unforced.
Without the production layers glitz and glamour you really feel every word but is it sincerity?
The guitar wraps around his voice like an old friend greeting you, you feel it’s warmth and wholesomeness leaving space for the emotion to breathe. The studio version swells beautifully with gospel harmonies and organ, but this?
Just rawness.
This feels like it’s just for you. Like you’ve wandered into the studio door by chance and caught them playing just for the fun it’s a real moment of connection.
It’s very much different this acoustic video compared to the video featuring Sir Ben Kingsley which was filmed at the iconic Albert Hall Manchester along side a host of great actors it plays on the lines of critique of modern acting and the need for face to face advocating.
WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR ‘CLOSER’ HERE NOW
It’s been quite a journey for the band. Black & White Movie hit No.14 in the Official Record Store Chart, won them fans in high places including Guy Garvey and Jo Whiley, and their Elbow-produced single Dance To The Algorithm which we reviewed back in November 2025 kept that momentum building. With a UK tour coming up — Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Warrington, London — and a second album already in the works with Elbow’s Craig Potter for 2027, things are moving fast.
We look forward to seeing the guys at Yes Pink Room Manchester on the 7th November.
But to summarise and be opinionated about this track what I love most about this acoustic take is that it proves they’ve stayed true to themselves the core of what Gustaffson are about means they haven’t lost sight of what matters most — the song itself. If a song’s good enough, it doesn’t need dressing up it’s true.
And Closer is more than good enough.
It’s a beautiful reminder that the simplest things are sometimes hit the hardest. So do yourself a favour: put your phone tablet whatever you are mentality involved in face down, press play, and just listen.
It’s music with heart, music with something to say it doesn’t carry disappointment— and it’s coming straight out of Manchester City with pedigree and heritage just simple proper music. No frills. No Fuss.Just soul.
Review by Phil Marsden for THE SONGBIRD HQ