Ed Sheeran landed a third position on the U.K. charts with “The A Team” shortly after signing to Asylum/Atlantic Records. The moving ballad is about a homeless drug addict teetering between worlds. Just 20 when he recorded this song, Sheeran sings the narrative as a remarkably wise soul, channeling the pain of his muse and contrasting it with wistful inflections crooned over uplifting melodies. “Firefly” is an acoustic folk-based song with some fine bass-toned picking on the top E and A strings. Over this, Sheeran sings amazingly layered self harmonies with just the clicking of two wooden sticks keeping time. It’s a perfect example of the less-is-more approach to recording. “Fall” is a slowly building love song, sung in close harmony with silky-voiced British singer/songwriter Amy Wadge. With sampled and looped beats rubbing nicely against the grain of a tastefully arranged string section, “Give Me Love” closes the EP by blooming like the grand finale of a fireworks display.