Mallrat - Light hit my face like a straight right

Where Mallrat’s earlier work wrapped itself in cosy lo-fi textures, 'Light hit my face like a straight right' drops Grace Shaw into a glittering pool of processed beats and warped electronics. This bold pivot might surprise fans of her previous dreamy indie offerings, but she navigates the transition with surprising grace.

The album's highlights showcase this evolution perfectly. 'Defibrillator' pulses with raw emotion beneath its glossy surface, while 'Hocus Pocus' casts an irresistible spell with its chopped vocals and skittering beats. 'Hideaway' proves Mallrat hasn't lost her knack for an earworm melody, even as she wraps it in layers of gleaming production.

The club-ready 'Love Songs-Heart Strings' demonstrates her newfound comfort with dance floor dynamics, but it's when she lets the mask slip that the album truly soars. 'The Worst Thing I Would Ever Do' feels closest to her earlier work, its atmosphere enhanced rather than replaced by the new production approach. It's a reminder that beneath the chrome and gloss, Mallrat's gift for emotional storytelling remains intact.

This reaches its peak on closer 'Horses', where a delicate narrative builds with the patience and precision of a master architect. It's here that the album's seemingly disparate elements - the experimental production, the intimate storytelling, the carefully constructed atmosphere - come together in perfect harmony.

Not everything lands perfectly. The shift from organic to artificial textures occasionally feels jarring, and some long-time fans might miss the fuzzy warmth of her earlier releases. But that's the price of evolution, and Mallrat seems more than willing to pay it. She's crafted an album that pushes boundaries while maintaining its emotional core - a difficult balance that she makes look effortless.