Album Review: Naoise Roo, Emotionally Magnificent

Since 2015’s debut Lilith, Naoise Roo has been honing her sound. On her newest album, Emotionally Magnificent, we see her at her most raw and musically ambitious.

Starting with psychedelic tone-setter ‘Sick Girlfriend’, over pulsing bass Roo is unapologetic about adoring her girlfriend. Her deep voice, reminiscent of Florence Welch, holds some serious power and she knows how to use it.

After the excellent duo of ‘Blackhole’ and ‘Future Ghost’, the record swerves into punk territory with the mechanical lament of ‘Whoever’ and standout ‘Razor Sharp Shirt’. Here, Roo sings about mental health - a theme present throughout the record - over a claustrophobic and futuristic soundscape.

Lead single ‘Sacred Cow’ boasts an earworm chorus, while closer ‘California’ has tropical twangs that offset the lyrical introspection. It makes for an attractively wistful conclusion to a rollercoaster record.

7/10