7/10

When Texas-born artist Leon Bridges delivered his breakthrough debut album 'Coming Home' in 2015, it was clear where his influences lay. Compared numerous times to acts such as Otis Redding and Sam Cooke, his direction was enveloped in the 60s soul sound, giving him a familiar yet distinct aesthetic throughout. We then saw this trend reemerge on his 2018 follow-up 'Good Thing', which saw him explore a more modern but still nostalgic intention. So now he returns with his third full-length 'Gold-Diggers Sound', a record that almost looks to saw goodbye to those retro-inspired origins.

From the start of this new collection, it is clear that 'Gold-Diggers Sound' marks the beginning of a new chapter within Leon Bridges' rise. While the soul and classic RnB tropes remain a solid staple of this new release, it has this forward-thinking thread running through it, showing us him in a whole new light throughout. It feels like rather than feel himself trapped within a sound that is attributed to a certain era, he is looking to create a timeless quality with these new offerings, displaying a more adventurous side within his production and creating a whole new guise from which to work from.

It may not have the same instant attraction that we felt towards his first two albums, but 'Gold-Diggers Sound' still shows some remarkably smooth and captivating cuts. His sugary sweet voice remains a firm focus of his sound as he looks to serenade us with a broad and diverse array of shimmering RnB delights.