Jack Garratt - 'Phase'

7/10

As this year's winner of the BBC Sound Of 2016 poll, all eyes have been firmly locked on this album since the beginning of the year. And while his live performances and singles so far have certainly earned him that place as this year's most hyped new artist, his debut album 'Phase' seems to show even more angles to his talents as he tries to break away from the singer-songwriter motif that has been following him so far in his career.

Even after just a few tracks, it is clear that Jack Garratt isn't comfortable sitting in the same place for too long. While we have seen solo artists use loop pedals and drums machines to create the sound of a live band in their performances, Garratt uses them to give the appearance of a whole new artist in front of them each time. The result is a wildly diverse debut album that has trouble really setting itself on a given path. The eclectic array of sounds and influences make it hard to really get settled into this new release and show that he is still looking for that sound he wants to call his own.

While it has its issues, it is still an incredibly impressive record. Keeping much of it on the electronic side, 'Phase' is certainly the envelope-pushing release we were all hoping for. But without a focused direction, it is more a collection of songs than a cohesive album.

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