Stella Donnelly - Flood

Stella Donnelly's debut album 'Beware of the Dogs' was more than enough to kick up a bit of a stir. Its follow up, 'Flood', should whip up full on storms.

A bright and brilliant song about her parent's eviction as a child might not be an obvious combination, but opener 'Lungs' is a wonderfully whipsmart indication of what's to follow. 'How Was Your Day?' shifts from breezy choruses to prime 2022 Sprechgesang in the verses, but nothing here is forced to fit a trend. Title track 'Flood' shows as much, offering a subtly different, wonderfully impactful vibe.

The real joy of Stella Donnelly, though, lies not only in how good her individual songs are - and they're very good indeed - but also the way they combine as a whole. Slipping down as easy as a cold drink on a hot day, they've a value way beyond the immediate. A winning return.