8/10

With her latest studio album 'Animal Magnifique!', Calista Garcia throws caution to the wind, baring her teeth and her soul in a record that roars with life and defiance. It’s an unfiltered invitation to embrace the wildest corners of ourselves; a radiant, fearless celebration of what it means to be fully alive.

From the opening seconds of 'Tilt-a-Whirl', you’re swept into a neon-lit fever dream where anger turns to kinetic bliss. And just when you think you’ve caught your breath with what lies ahead, 'Big Mouth' smacks you in the face with its razor-sharp wit and glimmering defiance.

Garcia’s vocal range is an unstoppable force throughout the album. She slips between ghostly whispers and thunderous roars as if flipping a switch, never losing an ounce of authenticity. On 'Ghost', she haunts you with raw vulnerability, her voice echoing long after the track fades. It’s a chilling highlight that balances the record’s more brazen moments with aching introspection.

Instrumentally, 'Animal Magnifique!' is a kaleidoscope of textures and tones. Co-producer Henry Ryeder brings a cinematic touch, layering synth surges, explosive guitars, and sweeping strings (thanks to Charles Stacy) into a soundscape that feels both vintage and futuristic. It’s glam-rock dipped in chamber-pop opulence, Ziggy Stardust spirit with a distinctly modern twist.

By the time 'Animal Magnifique!' reaches its final crescendo, you feel changed. You walk away from this album a little braver, a little wilder, and infinitely more alive. In a landscape crowded with safe bets and polite confessions, Calista Garcia has delivered a fearless, technicolour howl into the void.