8/10

Having been one of the standout figures amongst the indie boom of the 00s, Kate Nash is one of the few familiar faces to have maintained a strong level of popularity throughout the last two decades. Having shifted her attention to acting in recent years while she navigated the landscape as an independent artist, these last few years have seen her don numerous festival stages, proving she is still very much in people's minds right now. So after more than six years since her last LP, she finally returns with her fifth studio album '9 Sad Symphonies', a record that sees her reemerge with fire and finesse.

While her latest endeavour has that familiar Kate Nash flair to it, much of it feels like the beginning of something new for her. Adopting this rich and dynamic production to backup her solemn lyrical content throughout gives her latest offering an incredibly adventurous feel as she juxtaposes sombre songwriting with an uplifting backdrop. Keeping very much to the warm and embracing vein she has always adopted, '9 Sad Symphonies' sees her reestablish herself as one of the more innovative and progressive names on today's scene.

It may have arrived after longer than many would have wanted, but '9 Sad Symphonies' was certainly worth the wait. Brimming with this bright and engaging energy from start to finish, Kate Nash is back and more ambitious than ever.