8/10

Throughout her infancy, Japanese-American artist Mitski enjoyed a bold and adventurous stint as one of the most progressive yet seldom admired names on the new music scene. Her output was a regular addition to many critics' personal collections, but it wasn't until her 2018 LP 'Be The Cowboy' that she experienced world-renowned status. Her broad and adventurous style had finally broken out of the underground and brought her more praise and accolades than she had ever garnered before. Now after four years to figure out her next move, she returns with her sixth studio album 'Laurel Hell', a record that continues her enigmatic nature.

One of the things that has truly stood out about Mitski's direction is her ability to create rich and engaging offerings, without resorting to bright and over-the-top fanfare. She has this subtle allure about herself, which quickly makes itself the hallmark of 'Laurel Hell'. With its warm and effervescent texture, married perfectly alongside her own smooth and soaring vocal style, this new collection not only follows on from 'Be The Cowboy' effortlessly, but also sees her evolve out of her previous identity, giving us just enough intrigue to leave us wanting more by the end.

Although this was probably her most high-profile release of her career so far, Mitski has not buckled under the weight of expectation, and instead brought us yet another invigorating release. A strong and proficient artist from start to finish, something we seem to find ourselves in desperate need of at the moment.