8/10

After originally making a name for herself back in 2021 with a string of impactful singles, London-based singer, poet, producer and multi-instrumentalist Lilly Neubauer returned to her Creature & Machine project earlier this year to deliver her long-awaited comeback EP 'Mind Games'. Quickly finding her feet on the scene once again, these last few months have been a great opportunity for her to spread her creative wings as she returns with her wondrous new EP 'A Delicate Power', a release that builds upon those immersive foundations throughout.

While Neubauer's influences like Kate Bush and Imogen Heap can be heard throughout this new material, 'A Delicate Power' still looks to develop a distinctive direction for itself, something far more in line with her own progressive intentions. Exploring a multitude of diverse alt-pop-inspired aesthetics for this new five-track outing, her innovative nature has been pushed to the forefront here, offering something that moves to its own beat. Tracks like 'OneTwoThree' stand out with their bold and captivating production, while the opener 'The Thing Itself' is more about highlighting the explorative approach to songwriting she has always looked to maintain.

Although this new offering arrives after an extremely busy spell in her tenure to date, 'A Delicate Power' showcases some brilliantly alluring and mesmerising ideas here. Moving with this smooth and shimmering presence as often as possible, Lilly Neubauer's Creature & Machine is pushing the boundaries for both herself and the genre she works within.