Albums: Bess Atwell’s Light Sleeper 

Bess Atwell’s Light Sleeper is her third album and arguably her most raw. The album sees the Brighton singer-songwriter wear her heart on her sleeve as she reflects on her own mental health journey. Tracks such as ‘The Weeping’ document Atwell’s lowest moments, in which she describes herself as a “walking open wound.” Her lyrics are a carefully crafted combination of melancholy and self-awareness, while the music itself carries a dreamlike feel reminiscent of antidepressant side effects. Coming off medication is a topic she explores in the more hopeful ‘Something New,’ in which Atwell realises she is “not numb” anymore and starts to look ahead to the future. Bess Atwell kicked off the Light Sleeper tour at the Norwich Arts Centre on the 2nd of October, and it is safe to say there were some tears in the crowd. – Lily Taylor 

Artist: RAYE 

Remembering RAYE fondly from her standout radio hits ‘You Don’t Know Me’ and ‘Decline’, it was a pleasure to be reintroduced to her this year, now as a sleek sonic auteur. Her stellar debut album, My 21^st Century Blues, has earned her the right to speak on the behalf of a generation. Fluent in multiple musical languages, she knows when and how to pounce: the unrelenting rap flows of ‘Hard Out Here.’, the melancholic techno sea of ‘Black Mascara.’ or the immense gravitas of three part spoken-word/R&B/Jazz epic ‘Genesis’. And her reach is staggering, earning a viral TikTok hit in ‘Escapism.’ as easily as earning a spot at the esteemed Montreux Jazz Festival. After lengthy label scuffles, RAYE is now here to stay. – Adam Teschner 

Album: No Other – Gene Clark 
 
Despite being thought of as a critical failure at the time, Gene Clark’s 1974 album No Other has since been highly praised and regarded as a lost masterpiece after being posthumously rereleased in 2019. To me, it’s a near perfect album. Containing a selection of flawlessly crafted autumnal songs, this album has connected country and rock in a spectacular way that warms you with every tune. Clark showcases his renowned lyricism in both ‘Strength of Strings’ and ‘No Other,’ arguably his most famed efforts, but I have to single out ‘Some Misunderstanding’ as one of my all-time favourites: being just over 8 minutes long, it never fails to capture that early seventies soft rock essence. Definitely considered a comfort album in my eyes! – By Adela Gashi 

Song: CHIHIRO – Billie Eilish 

From Eilish’s latest studio album Hit Me Hard and Soft, ‘CHIHIRO’ remains at the top of my playlist even months after its release. An instant favourite, the electronic soundscape paints an ethereal alternate dimension as Eilish grapples with the liminality between physical and spiritual worlds. Despite the title intentionally referencing Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away, the core emotions this connection evokes are far more profound in the introspection of very human emotions in the ephemeral nature of relationships. Punctuated by the constant build and decline of resounding synths, CHIHIRO explores confusion in the sense of longing and loss constantly in conflict with one another, reflected in the song’s ever-changing direction. With Eilish’s lyrics drowned in the synth towards the end of the track, the ghost of her enchantingly haunting vocals are sure to stick with you as we move into Halloween season. – By Charlotte Ward