Ed Sheeran - x [2LP 45 RPM]

Ed Sheeran's x arrives on two 180-gram LPs cut at 45 RPM, a pressing that gives his 2014 blockbuster plenty of room to shine.

Following the success of his debut, Sheeran went bigger on his second record, teaming up with an impressive roster of producers including Rick Rubin, Pharrell Williams, Jeff Bhasker, Benny Blanco and Jake Gosling. The result turned the ginger-haired busker into one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, without losing the loop pedal and acoustic guitar at his core.

Sing, produced by Pharrell, is a falsetto-laced funk strut that showed Sheeran could move a dance floor, while Don't turns a messy breakup into a rhythmic, rap-tinged confessional. Thinking Out Loud became a wedding staple thanks to its warm, soulful slow-dance groove, and Photograph is a tender, swelling ballad about holding on to memories.

Across the album, Sheeran blends folk, pop, R&B and hip-hop rhythms, swinging between heartfelt balladry and rapid-fire storytelling. His voice is warm and conversational, and the arrangements are polished enough for radio but intimate enough to feel personal.

Spread over four sides, the faster speed is a favourite with listeners chasing extra detail in every guitar string and harmony. It is the loop-pedal kid's big moment, pressed with care.