With his literate Baroque rock sound, Britain's Ed Harcourt is a distinctively enigmatic presence known for his solo work and contributions to other artists' work. Often compared to his idol Tom Waits, the pianist/vocalist gained early respect, picking up a Mercury Prize nomination for his 2001 debut Here Be Monsters. He also charted in the top 100 in the U.K. with albums like 2003's From Every Sphere, 2004's Strangers, 2006's The Beautiful Lie. Other albums, including 2010's Lustre, 2013's Back into the Woods, and 2016's Furnaces, further showcased his atmospheric sound and helped to solidify his reputation as a cult favorite. An in-demand studio player and producer, he has collaborated with such varied artists as Paloma Faith, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Marianne Faithfull. Beginning in 2018, Harcourt released several instrumental piano and orchestral albums before returning to his introspective singer/songwriter roots with 2024's El Magnifico.