8/10

When The Japanese House's Amber Bain released her stunning debut LP 'Good At Falling' in 2019, it was greeted as one of the more distinctive breakthroughs from that year. Finding and developing an entirely new take on the alt-pop sound gave Bain an identity that allowed her to break away from conventional norms and explore a multitude of concepts that struck a very emotive chord with listeners. And now after a number of years away to figure out her next move, she returns with her eagerly-awaited sophomore album 'In The End It Always Does', a record brimming with inventive passion throughout.

Working alongside Dirty Hit labelmate George Daniel from the 1975, Katie Gavin of Muna, and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon to create her latest endeavour, 'In The End It Always Does' has this duality running through it, largely due to its collaborative nature. While some of the release focuses more of that euphoric pop ideals she has cultivated since her earliest beginnings, much of this new collection also branches off into a more experimental realm at times, giving it this wonderfully unpredictable direction that feels far more confident than her earlier work.

In all, 'In The End It Always Does' adds to the glittering response her first full-length managed to conjure. Feeling like a bold step forward within her musical evolution to date, she has returned with a beautifully alluring and innovative offering that sounds like a fresh surprise almost every time we hear it.