Lianne La Havas - Lianne La Havas

Lianne La Havas' voice is incredible. Whether it's exploding outwards with colour or exploring the inner depths of the soul, it's a magnetic force. 'Is Your Love Big Enough?' and 'Blood' showed its transcendent range and caught even the ear of Prince. After 5 years almost out of the spotlight entirely, La Havas hasn't lost any of that power.

On her third album, 'Lianne La Havas' feels like a reintroduction to one of the most exciting voices of the 2010s where lightness is the key to success. On 'Paper Thin', La Havas sounds like she's constantly on the verge of breaking as she begs her partner to stay. You can practically hear the thump in her throat shift as she belts "Don't go / 'Cause I need you so".

'Green Papaya' conjures a dreamy landscape that's also endearingly corny. "Take me / home, let's make real love" is awkward in that early fumbling stages of love way. If this had taken the more epic route of lead single 'Bittersweet', it might've fallen flat. But, when it's delivered with just her voice and her guitar, there's an odd beauty that makes it feel so earnest. It's a similar case with 'Courage'. "I lose my head / every time we speak / so I sing instead" has a charming naivety to it when paired with a fluttering whistled melody and almost ghostly synths.