Rozi Plain -‘Friend.’ (Lost Map)

The third album from Rozi Plain is an undeniably gorgeous affair, with an amazing range of styles on display. Somehow, it all flows together to make a very impressive album that feels very much a whole rather than scattered ideas.

It opens with the singalong folk-pop of ‘Actually’ which then goes into the the summery jazz of ‘Best Team.’ Yet later on we have the krautrcoky ‘Jogalong’ followed by the pastoral ‘Quarry.’ How does she do it?

Make no mistake, this is not just another singer-songrwiter record (Lord knows there have been way too many of those over the years!). What is so wonderful is the delivery and inventiveness of Rozi Plain and her collaborators (including members of Hot Chip and Francois and the Atlas Mountains, amongst others).

Reportedly it was her brother who got her interested in the guitar. We should all give thanks that he did.

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Friend is out now on Lost Map.