8/10

Since the release of her debut EP 'Sugar & Spice' last year, Brisbane-based frontwoman Hatchie has been keen to adopt her own sound within the music industry. While many compare her to The Cocteau Twins and Beach House, it is clear that she is looking to cut her own style by taking influence from the dream-pop sound but ultimately making it her own with a wild and varied mix of production throughout. And as she delivers her debut album 'Keepsake', we can hear that she has gone whole hog on this new record, branching out in a multitude of different angles.

While her formative material obviously had this diverse and sometimes experimental approach to it, this new full-length sees her in a more well-honed environment. Taking her eclectic nature and bottling it down into a diverse yet cohesive new collection makes this new album one of the most expressive and progressive we have heard all year. With her eerie yet powerful voice guiding the record's emotion, it has this wonderfully rich sound that never looks to settle itself into one place. Instead each track has its own unique personality and moves forward with a strong and succinct pace.

While there was not much fanfare in the build up to this release, it feels like 'Keepsake' will become a slow-burn discovery for many. There is barely a cut on here that wouldn't pique the interest of a passive listener, and that is what makes this new release such a joy to get stuck into.