8/10

Near the beginning of last year, Cambridge's Man With A Corduroy Heart introduced himself with his lovable debut LP 'Things Are A Little Bit...', bringing together the broad and diverse aesthetics he had been exploring in his initial year. But since then, we have seen the project move from strength to strength as he looks to widen his creative lens and bring in a more varied approach to both his aesthetic and songwriting. And with another wave of much-loved releases under his belt recently, he is back once again to deliver his eagerly-awaited sophomore album 'Weirdos', a record that finds him in a far more confident and assured guise.

While very much akin to the style and texture of his initial full-length, 'Weirdos' feels like a bigger and more ambitious project. Adding a much more dynamic and layered use of production this time around, the frontman swaps out his smooth and humbling acoustic-led croons for more vibrancy and innovation as it plays. Whether he is channelling the 60s-inspired swagger for 'I'm A Little Bit Short' or adopting a country-infused persona for 'House To Myself', Man With A Corduroy Heart still manages to cultivate something fresh and interesting in which to explore.

It has certainly been a great time for his adventurous spirit in recent times, but 'Weirdos' certainly takes a bold step forward for his musical evolution to date. Brighter, wiser, and more compelling than ever, he is returning with some of his more accomplished material to date here.