7/10

Surrounding the release of her breakthrough debut LP 'Lost & Found' in 2018, Jorja Smith quickly found herself as one of the more coveted names on the rise that year. Leading to countless collaboration with high-profile artists in the years since, as well as her riveting comeback EP 'Be Right Back' in 2020, she has cemented herself as an exciting addition to the R&B landscape in recent years. And is now looking to continue that vibrant journey with her long-awaited sophomore LP 'falling or flying', a record brimming with a more eclectic identity throughout.

While her first full-length certainly brought an enormous spotlight onto her and her sound, 'falling or flying' seems more interested in subverting expedition from start to finish. While her core R&B ideals remain the heart of this new release, there is this wonderfully adventurous approach to its aesthetic this time around. Dabbling in more UK funky-inspired textures for 'She Feels', and even a bouncing indie-pop number in the form of 'GO GO GO', she seems keen to make her latest outing a truly diverse and unexpected listen.

While its eccentric nature certainly brings something new and interesting to her direction, 'falling or flying' can sometimes feel a little too inventive for its own good, creating a pace and flow that sometimes doesn't gel as well as it should. But regardless of its stumbled momentum, it still makes for a wildly enjoyable listen throughout.