Album Review: Pale Waves, Smitten

Pale Waves have always delighted into taking a chainsaw to pigeonholes. A band who refuse to make the same record twice, their fourth LP marks another new musical adventure. Moving away from the punk-pop riffs of 2022's Unwanted, Smitten sees the quartet embrace Cure-style hooks and irresistible melodies reminiscent of the much-missed Dolores O’Riordan.

Drawing inspiration from her dusty teenage diary, vocalist Heather Baron-Gracie tells us tales about clandestine affairs, confusion and acceptance. ‘Seeing Stars’ nicely tips a cap to Hole’s ‘Hit So Hard', while ‘Last Train Home' is an atmospheric ballad. Baron-Gracie's vocals, meanwhile, have never sounded more powerful, particularly on the likes of 'Gravity' and 'Glasgow'.

Brimming with bangers, fans of '90s indie-pop will fall head over heels for Smitten.

7/10

Smitten is out 27 September