7/10

Throughout the early stages of her career, Clairo was tipped as one of the most exciting new names to emerge on the scene. And with a firm and driven level of buzz surrounding her 2019 debut LP 'Immunity', she has since been able to step away from the constant grind of the commercial world and figure out her next steps as she makes her way through the ever-evolving alt-pop scene. But after just two years away from the limelight, she returns with her hotly-anticipated sophomore full-length 'Sling', a record that finds power in the most humble of aesthetics.

While 'Immunity' was produced alongside Rostam Batmanglij, a producer known for bolder and more audacious directions, 'Sling' sees her working with Jack Antonoff, who has recently found a way to strip back the likes of St. Vincent and Lorde to create a more sombre intention, which is exactly what we experience on here. While it still looks to focus on the broad and dreamy style she found her fame with, there is something more intrinsically beautiful about how calm this album sounds, giving us a far more confident and serene Clairo at the helm.

It may be whisper quiet at some points, but that only adds to the smooth and tranquil energy she has looked to conjure this time around. From the start, 'Sling' looks to set her apart from the conventional guise of an artist in her position, and try something far more captivating and shimmering in the process.