Foxes debut has been a long time coming. Though the Southampton singer (a.k.a Louisa Rose Allen) hit the mainstream on Zedd’s Clarity in 2013, that track was actually originally released in 2012, as were her own singles Echo, Youth and her ‘Warrior’ EP. ‘Glorious’ comes off the back of two recent singles, Holding Onto Heaven and Let Go For Tonight – all of which are included here, resulting in a very solid pop effort.
Perhaps even too solid.
To an extent ‘Glorious’ is pop 101, rarely deviating from the pop
rulebook. There’s the breakthrough hit (Youth) with its dark synths and euphoric
chorus; the piano-led power pop single (Let
Go For Tonight); the bubbling, Goldfrapp-esque slice of weird electro (White Coats); the soaring, epic power
ballad (Glorious); the woozy youthful
anthem (Shaking Heads); the
collaboration (Clarity – here in live
form).
Aesthetically speaking ‘Glorious’ does tick a lot of boxes,
incorporating quirky electro-pop with soul, dance and light dubstep. Yet this sort of cynical view does the album
a disservice. For starters, although
each track is produced for maximum epic impact with soaring strings and
pounding beats, it never overpowers Allen’s vocals that remain pleasantly
delicate and vulnerable throughout, with enough strength for some truly emotive
moments without the need for vocal gymnastics.
Tracks like Let Go For Tonight and
Glorious, for instance, allow her to
spread her vocal wings, whilst her live version of Clarity provides a sense of fragility that’s missing from the
original. The writing is also full of
pop hooks, leading to an album that is absolutely devoid of bad tracks or
filler – choosing a favourite is an impossible task.
And don’t let the pink cover fool you – Foxes’ output is far
from bubblegum. Citing the likes of Kate
Bush, Björk and Bat for Lashes as major influences, Allen’s sound has a twist
of welcome ethereal darkness. “And if
the men in white coats are coming I know you’ll still be there for me” she
sings on the chorus of White Coats amongst
wordless reversed vocal samples and ominous piano, whilst on the atmospheric Night Glo a steady beat shatters in the
distance supporting her wandering vocal – it’s straight out of Natasha Khan’s
book. And on Shaking Heads the youthful lyrics (“we are young, we’re foolish
tonight”) are supported by fragmented synth lines and layered percussion, the production elevating it from the usual pop fare.
It’s a crowded market for female pop vocalists but Foxes do
just enough to stand out from the pack. This is an album that flirts with risk-taking
rather than offering a truly original output, but under Allen’s vocals ‘Glorious’
is coherent and consistently strong – one of the best pop albums of the year so
far.
4/5
Gizzle’s Choice:
* Youth
* Night Glo
* Shaking Heads
Listen: ‘Glorious’ is available now.
