Rock/Review FREE/MAN - Reconnection

Songwriter Charlie Freeman, known as FREE/MAN, is based in London's Portobello and has been writing tunes on his acoustic since he learned at 19, when he used the instrument as a meditative and emotional salve to his dad's illness. Messages of duality, love, spirituality, suffering, overcoming pain, the hero’s journey, truth, freedom, and connection.

“Reconnection,” the latest EP from FREE/MAN, stands as both a deeply personal statement and a tantalizing glimpse into the artist’s upcoming full-length album “Gift in the Shadows,” a project nearly two years in the making. Across its four tracks, including a heartfelt reimagining of Bob Marley’s classic “Redemption Song,” FREE/MAN delivers an authentic blend of acoustic soul and melodic rock that feels timeless yet refreshingly sincere.

The EP is aptly titled — “Reconnection” feels like an artistic and spiritual reset. Its themes revolve around rediscovering one’s voice, rebuilding faith, and embracing the vulnerability that comes with true self-expression. The arrangements are stripped back yet emotionally charged, allowing FREE/MAN’s raw, impassioned vocals to take center stage. Each song feels like an invitation to pause, breathe, and reflect — a rare quality in an age of overproduction and artifice.

The standout track, “Redemption Song,” isn’t just a cover; it’s a reinterpretation that honors Marley’s message of freedom while grounding it in FREE/MAN’s own lived experience. Elsewhere, his original compositions balance tenderness with strength, weaving acoustic textures and soulful choruses that resonate long after the music fades.

Ultimately, “Reconnection” achieves what its name promises: it reconnects listeners with emotion, honesty, and the simple power of song. It’s a warm, introspective collection that feels both deeply human and quietly uplifting — the perfect prelude to the grander emotional journey promised by “Gift in the Shadows.”