8/10

Ever since he first broke through with his brilliant debut LP 'Coming Home' in 2015, Leon Bridges has always found himself compared to the legends of yesteryear. With Sam Cooke and Otis Redding named as clear influences behind his sound, his initial material was focused on rebranding that classic soul sound for a modern ear, reshaping its appeal for the next generation. But with the years passing by, it is now clear he is looking to forge his own unique path within the zeitgeist with his fourth studio album 'Leon', a record that finds him in a far more intimate guise.

As its eponymous title suggests, 'Leon' aims to show the true vision for his artistic integrity. While still very much in line with the warm and emotive presence he has conjured throughout the last decade, his newest effort finds him pushing for a far more unique and distinctive aesthetic. With his silky vocals making light work of this broad and varied backdrop, which sounds far more adventurous and innovative than what we know him for, it almost feels as if this release marks the beginning of a new and revitalised artist at the helm.

It certainly stands up to his previous work so far, and still manages to inspire and surprise as it plays. 'Leon' has this general tone of experimentation towards it throughout, something that we can hopefully expect a lot more from him in the years ahead as well.