7/10

Over this past year, LA-based artist and producer Jake Marshall has been busy building a broad and dynamic aesthetic in which to call his own. Blending this heady mix of psychedelic influences with a pop-focused approach to production, his tenure to date has been this wildly explorative one that always looks to add something new and interesting to his ever-evolving repertoire. And after plenty of praise for his recent material, he is now kicking off his new year with his eagerly-awaited debut EP 'Better Luck Next Time', a collection that heightens his progressive intentions to date.

Beaming with this rich and adventurous direction from start to finish, 'Better Luck Next Time' makes for a wonderfully enjoyable introduction to what he has been cooking up lately. Kicking up the glossy grooves with tracks like 'San Francisco' and its lead single 'Next Time', this six-track outing finds him in one of his more impactful guises to date. While it still may be early days within his pursuits so far, this initial EP perfectly illustrates the rich and innovative approach he has been garnering since his earliest beginnings.

Adding a distinctive folk and synth-pop-inspired endeavour into this new release, 'Better Luck Next Time' instantly sets itself as a beautifully refined yet varied listening experience. Moving with this subtle elegance from one track to the next, Jake Marshall is certainly someone we need to keep a close eye on for the months ahead as well.