HOLLY HUMBERSTONE
Cruel World (Polydor)
Holly Humberstone contemplates the pendulum swing of falling in love on her sophomore studio album, an impressive endeavour in artistic refinement for the singer-songwriter. What manifests is 10 songs brimming with catchy melodies and an unexpected playful attitude.
Ironic, given the album’s title, that for the most part of Cruel World, Humberstone seems to be enjoying herself. The glitchy and disorientating drum’n’bass break in Make It All Better and the shimmering country-pop of White Noise, attest to this. Even the title track seems to embody the breezy lightness of Sabrina Carpenter at times.
However, that’s not to say Humberstone loses her knack for confessional songwriting amidst all the fun. In fact, it’s the opposite, with the shameless pop music moments highlighting the darker edges of Humberstone’s lyricism. Drunk Dialling is both cheeky, horny, and exposing, while Peachy strips things back into a tender piano ballad exploring avoidant attachment. Humberstone’s ability to storytell, to balance these contrasting moments, paint an actualised modern portrait of falling in love in today’s world – no matter how cruel it may be.
words RHYS JAMES
