Lianne La Havas’ self-titled album is stunning, capturing heart, soul and incredible rhythm throughout 12 incredible tracks

Lianne La Havas’ music is timeless. Despite this new album being her first studio project in over 5 years, it doesn’t feel like it’s long overdue. But her new self-titled album Lianne La Havas has finally arrived, and it is stunning from front-to-back. I’ve always been a fan of her lavish, gorgeous guitar-led melodies and her stunning vocal performances, and this project honestly feels like her most complete body of work to date. It’s a soulful, melodic and utterly mesmeric album that beautifully captures her aura, love and pain throughout the 12 tracks on here. Listening to it I was so immersed I didn’t even notice how far into the album I actually was when I felt like I pressed play just a few minutes ago.

Sonically, the album is lavish and textured, with incredible guitar leads, subtle but poignant synth leads and incredible drumming that pulsates through every song. The eclecticism and the diverse array of melodies and sonic palates throughout the album are truly mesmeric. From the gentle piano keys to the thumping beat and grand vocal performance on the incredible opener “Bittersweet – Full Length” to the incredible guitar arpeggios on “Green Papaya”, the textured and nuanced sound Lianne La Havas is able to produce is just utterly captivating. Singing about trying to find her way home, making real love and growing as a human being is inspiring and relatable. The punchy, drum-heavy “Can’t Fight” is incredible, with groovy basslines and an incredible melody. The softness of “Paper Thin” is utterly beautiful, a warm and heartfelt track that perfectly captures her aura. “Weird Fishes” was the one track I was slightly skeptical of initially when I saw the tracklist. This is a cover of one of my favourite songs ever, off one of the my favourite albums ever from my favourite band of all time. But you know what, she does it justice. She’s by no means trying to emulate the Radiohead original, and the way the track explodes into life near the end… is just phenomenal. The drums on tracks like “Please Don’t Make Me Cry” and “Seven Times” give me life, while the soulful and angelic guitar and string-driven “Courage” is incredible. “Sour Flower” is a reflective track where she speaks candidly about feeling that she deserves more love and life, and not settling for less. The way Lianne has blossomed over the last five years or so is incredibly inspiring, and the closer “Bittersweet” is proof of that. Gorgeous, lavish and utterly breathtaking, she is able to capture a powerful and soulful energy that shows the world just how amazing she is.

Lianne La Havas’s third, self-titled album is a stunning body of work that captures heart, soul and incredible rhythm through compositions that are beautifully melodic and utterly captivating. She is a star, and I really hope she continues to grow and flourish as an artist because this album is truly incredible. Go support!