8/10

The release of her 2017 self-titled debut album was one of the biggest pop juggernauts of that year, and saw Dua Lipa go from a promising new act to an international superstar with a wealth of catchy and memorable tracks under her belt already. So when it comes to following up a release like that, the feeling can sometimes be thoroughly overwhelming. But despite all the pretence of creating that difficult second album and looking to replicate the success of her debut record, it is clear that she has gone above and beyond all expectations as she delivers her sophomore full-length 'Future Nostalgia', a release that fully cements her as the future of British pop music.

While her self-titled album was an absolute hit-factory, banging out one highly acclaimed single after another, it never quite felt like a fully-formed collection but rather an LP that was written by comity. But with 'Future Nostalgia', we begin to feel like we are now beginning to hear the true sound of Dua Lipa, resulting in a far more cohesive and consistent offering. While there are these odd moments of retro flair, such as the disco-inspired direction of lead single 'Don't Start Now' or the driven synthwave aesthetic of 'Physical', the record still maintains this fluid and driven pace that keeps the release ever pushing itself forward.

Many would probably have written off Dua Lipa as a flash-in-the-pan act a couple of years ago, someone that would just come and go on the ever more competitive pop radar. But 'Future Nostalgia' proves that she isn't going anywhere and is fact probably looking to become this country's answer to Taylor Swift on an international level.