7/10

Prior to the release of his much-loved third LP 'Grand Plan' in 2020, Dan Croll had relocated from his Liverpudlian homeland to Los Angeles. And while the original impact of his arrival left him homesick, the eventual pandemic lockdowns found him more isolated than ever, giving that collection a far darker and poignant direction than we had become used to from him beforehand. But with the dust finally settled and Dan feeling a little more assured about his emigration, he now returns with his fourth full-length 'Fools', a record that feels far more content with his sound as an artist.

While its lyrical subjects still hold a more subdued and pensive theme at their core, 'Fools' feels like a much brighter and more engaging listen. Keeping the jovial aesthetic he brought to 'Grand Plan' back for this new album, there is this beautifully warm and embracing ideal threaded throughout his newest offering. With its broad and technicolour appeal that perfectly plays with his own shimmering vocal style, this new release feels like a bold step forward for his evolution to date and makes for a wonderfully easy-going listen throughout.

Although 'Fools' was eventually born out of a personal and mental struggle about being so far from his natural home, Dan Croll confidently transforms that anxiety into a blissful array of breezy delights from start to finish. Growing in both atmosphere and innovation throughout, he makes some of his hardest personal moment sound almost pleasant at times.