released: august 14th, 2026

genre: she does whatever the fuck she wants

from: brooklyn, new york, usa

label: mexican summer

a few thoughts: ever since the release of l’rain’s self-titled debut back in 2017, i have been mesmerised by her ability to transform sonic ideas and collages into ethereal, otherworldly compositions, with her soothing, sweet and gentle voice at the centre of it all. fatigue and i killed your dog were mesmerising projects capturing her versatility as a producer, with tracks ranging from smooth r&b to ambient, indie rock and downright experimental music. fata morgana is her fourth album, a stunning meditation on self, romantic uncertainty and grief. it’s fitting that she named it after an optical illusion where objects in water above the horizon get distorted, a perfect metaphor for the type of thoughts and feelings she evokes within her music, as well as the immersive, floating-like feeling i get listening to it. after the brief opener “rumors of light”, the album kicks off with the gorgeous “with time”, an atmospheric, immersive track that feels delicate and hypnotic. the subtle piano melodies and synth leads intertwine to create this utterly transcendental sound, and is a sonic theme throughout the album. the off-kilter drumming and swelling brass instrumentation on “blue” feels melancholic, as l’rain’s incredible reverby vocals are stunning throughout. the shoegazy quality of “july 5th” is truly mesmerising, as it breaks into this dynamic, drum-led dancehall groove and vocals. “bedroom songs” is an airy, ephemeral moment, while the delicate vocals on “borderline” are complemented by wailing guitars and an utterly infectious drum-led groove that is explosive and utterly entrancing from start to finish. the drum-led groove on “elmyra” is incredible too, with a sweet and immersive composition, and l’rain’s angelic vocals creating this immensely powerful and moving energy. the cathartic, explosive guitar-led energy of “soulless cycle” is phenomenal, with wailing guitars and a relentless energy that that channels metal energy. it flows perfectly into the short and ambient “no body / know body” and then into the spellbinding “glass ceiling”, gentle and immersive “glass ceiling”. the brief, angelic “i remember” is a humourous addition to the album, where l’rain sings “baby i want your love” playfully. “birthday” is utterly hypnotic, as it oozes soul, with gentle drumming and gorgeous synth melodies that are as sweet as honey. “church of no one” closes the album out with an earthly, gorgeous and mesmerising composition, with subtle piano keys and stunning vocals that bring the album to a disorienting, eclectic final moment. fata morgana is an immersive, transcendental body of work that may be l’rain’s most complete work to date, but also likely to be one of my albums of the year.