Columbo

Released in 2023, Columbo represents a refined evolution of Bruno Major's signature sound, moving slightly away from the bedroom-soul aesthetics of his earlier work toward a more expansive, yet still deeply intimate, singer-songwriter tradition. Named after his vintage Mercedes-Benz which he crashed during the writing process, the album uses that event as a metaphor for the fragility of beauty and the inevitability of change. Sonically, the record is anchored by Major's virtuosic but restrained jazz guitar playing and his distinctive breathy tenor. It bridges the gap between the classic pop sensibilities of Billy Joel or Elliott Smith and the modern neo-soul of artists like Jordan Rakei. The album was recorded with a focus on analog warmth, featuring standout tracks like the title piece and the devastatingly sparse 'Trajectories.' It was widely praised by critics for its sophisticated harmonic language and its ability to maintain a sense of profound physical proximity between the artist and the listener.