Two years on from breakthrough third album ‘Tramp’ and Sharon Van Etten’s slightly oppressive tone seems to have lifted, despite the lyrics losing none of their edge.
The staggering ‘Your Love Is Killing Me’ – sample line: “You love me as you torture me” – roams, aches and soars atop a regimented percussive shuffle and an emphatically hammered piano, managing to be both euphorically beautiful and deeply moving.
However, there are nimbly shimmering soulful numbers on offer too, the luxurious ‘Nothing Will Change’ perhaps the highlight. The varying styles, sounds and even delivery suggest an artist still exploring the skin she lives in. It’s a truly fascinating listen.
9/10
Words: Gareth James
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