8/10

Throughout her tenured career to date, New York-based artist Grace McLean has been one of the more enigmatic names doing the rounds. Following in the footsteps of Amanda Palmer and Tune-Yards with her breathtaking approach to both songwriting and production, this past decade has seen her deliver some of the more memorable additions to today's music scene. And after an almost endless flurry of rousing releases over the years, she finally releases her long-awaited debut album 'My Lovely Enemy', a record that cements her dynamic legacy so far.

While trying to pigeonhole Grace McLean has always been a fool's errand, 'My Lovely Enemy' makes it virtually impossible to sum up her sound in just a few brief words. Although "avant-garde pop" has been used as a blanket definition, her influences spread right back to the classic soul and jazz sounds of the 1950s, giving her direction this incredibly kaleidoscopic feel. Using a diverse array of instrumentation to create her vibrant style here, this new full-length sees her grow out of her formative shell and unveil some of her most passionate and eccentric material to date.

Grace McLean has always been known for her progressive ideals, but 'My Lovely Enemy' takes those initial thoughts and broadens them out into this incredibly absorbing LP. Definitely requires multiple listens to really get a full sense of it, but there is something truly wondrous about what she has returned with here.