You know that feeling of déjà vu where you could swear that you've seen or heard or been somewhere before but you haven't? That’s the feeling I've had while listening to ‘All I Need’, the sophomore album by British pop artist Foxes.
It's not a bad thing – not at all. It's an album that embodies her musical style flawlessly; her floaty and slightly breathy yet confident vocals are paired with rich instrumental backings and powerful melodies. Her lyrical ability is evident the more you listen (as if you had to be convinced of that though after her first album ‘Glorious’ stormed the charts in 2014), as is the topic that weaves throughout the album – heartbreak, getting over someone you loved, and finding yourself. It's an album that is both familiar yet brand new at the same time and it's no wonder it's making its way up th UK iTunes album chart – sitting at a comfortable 14 at the time of writing, and beating Sir Elton John by nine places.
One song in particular, ‘Amazing’, evokes that familiarity on a substantial level. It's a song that I could swear I had heard before, even though there was no way I could have done prior to its release as the album’s fourth single in December. Maybe it's because it's such a punchy, musically strong, track in the same way that ‘Glorious’ and ‘Holding Onto Heaven’ were from her debut record. The chorus of ‘Amazing’ is bright and catchy, with cheerful chanting of “do what you want, do what you want,” in the back as Foxes’ voice rings out crisp and clear over the top, everything driven by thumping piano chords (also a part of her previous work); “I know with you, tonight could be amazing… I'm scared to death, but I'm stood here waiting.”
As well as the floor-filling dance-worthy electronic pop tracks, there are some stunning ballads on this record. ‘Devil Side’ is a quiet R&B style track, which lilts and purrs with a thumping beat behind it. Others include the quietly beautiful ‘If You Leave Me Now’ and one of the best: ‘Scar’; a belter of a track where Foxes’s vocals are really showcased in all of their magnificent glory.
The two singles from the album, ‘Body Talk’ and ‘Better Love’ are certainly two of the stronger songs. They define the message Foxes is giving – that caring about yourself and your own confidence is just as, if not more, important than having that ‘perfect’ relationship. In fact, ‘Better Love’ is about improving and nurturing a relationship that is far from perfect and knowing when to call it quits and move on.
Foxes has grown with this album, she's blossomed into a more substantial artist with actual credibility, with proof of this in the form of sales and chart success and awards. Yet the familiar sounding songs and electronic pop melodies are cementing her place in the British pop scene.
Next stop: the world. The whole reason the album was pushed back from being released in October last year to its eventual February release last week was so that it could be released worldwide simultaneously . Here's hoping that it does well internationally; it deserves it.
