7/10
Over these last few years, Irish artist KEELEY has been quick to establish herself as one of the more enchanting names on the rise. Inspired by the broad and euphoric aesthetic of 90s alt-rock, rebranded for a modern ear, her tenure to date has been this wildly explorative one, cemented by her widely-praised debut LP 'Floating Above Everything Else' last year. And after continuing to push her direction forward these last few months, she returns once again to offer up her captivating sophomore album 'Beautiful Mysterious', a record that continues to build upon those dynamic foundations of late.
Doubling down on the rich and emotive textures her initial full-length adopted, 'Beautiful Mysterious' makes for a beautifully warm and inviting return for her. Spreading her bold and passionate vocal style across this dense, guitar-driven production across all eleven-tracks, she is returning to the fold with some of her most mystifying material to date here. Very much akin to what she has been cultivating over the years, KEELEY is taking the more anthemic moments within her aesthetic so far, and pushing them as far as they will go.
It certainly is a fresh and progressive return for the artist at the helm. Taking what she does best and multiplying the efforts throughout 'Beautiful Mysterious' really highlights the journey she has taken within her sound to date. It may have come after a prolific period within her career, but KEELEY is continuing to soar across this mesmerising new full-length.