Album Review: Sienna Spiro, Visitor

A whirlwind of soulful soundscapes and guts-spilling lyrics, Sienna Spiro leaves a strong impression with her debut album, Visitor. With her striking opening number, the London singer-songwriter offers up a 10-track exploration of life, love and fragility, each song bolstered by a shimmering fusion of vintage sonics and symphonic pop.

With her stunning vocal performance, Spiro seems to be drawing from her UK contralto predecessors and contemporaries, from Amy Winehouse and Duffy, all the way to RAYE and Lola Young. Her deep-voiced croon, that often ascends beyond its break, is underscored by the impressive, sky-reaching instrumentation, ranging from towering soul to orchestral pop airs.

While Visitor may suffer, at times, from too much production polish, the raw intensity of Spiro’s pen suffuses the entire album. She lays it all on the line on ‘You Stole the Show’, where the refrain “I ask if you love me, and you just shrug your shoulders” makes a show-stopping, orchestral climax out of received indifference. Meanwhile, the sweeping title track ‘The Visitor’ pedals a heart-rending narrative of a temporary love.

In the end, Visitor is a rousing debut that places Sienna Spiro in the pantheon of great English neo-soul artists.

7/10