8/10

Having been releasing new music for the better part of the last decade, Cat Burns' rise to the top has been a slow and steady one. After turning out a wealth of independently released gems in the latter half of the 2010s, it was her 2020 single 'Go' that saw her break through into the mainstream arena. Since then, she has been busy cultivating a rich and distinctive direction for herself, offering up yet more impactful offerings along the way. And after many years of praise and acclaim, she is looking to cement her legacy to date with her long-awaited debut album 'early twenties', a record brimming with warmth and allure throughout.

Featuring a heady blend of singles from these last few years, 'early twenties' feels like it could either be a reference to her age or the decade in which she has found prominence. Either way, we are treated to a broadly retrospective look at her career so far here. Combining a more polished production with some ethereal numbers along the way, this new full-length presents her in an extremely diverse light, honing her shimmering presence and lofty songwriting as often as possible.

While it felt like this LP could have arrived sooner than now, 'early twenties' has certainly been worth the wait. Cat Burns has maintained her place as one of the more innovative names on the rise recently, and this new release only cements that reputation even further.