7/10

Since his days in The War On Drugs, frontman and guitarist Kurt Vile has been a interesting and diverse solo act over the last decade. His recent collaborative album 'Lotta Sea Lice' with Courtney Barnett last year saw him give less attention to added production, preferring to stick with a more minimal angle that best reflected his intimate style of playing. But as he returns on his own with his seventh solo record 'Bottle It In', we see him channel more of the influence and direction of his former band, leading to a different but still very much Kurt Vile release.

Over the years, his records have been this mix of woozy, shoegaze-inspired works and more euphoric pieces that look to add depth and dimensions to his unique songwriting style. But with 'Bottle It In', Vile has adopted far more of the latter, with bigger and bolder sounds running throughout this new full-length. From the start, the album sees less of the frontman on his own and more as part of a wider outfit, blending a diverse range of instrumentation to this new release, we see him break away from his solo guise and emerge as a more energetic and uplifting individual.

While it still has that same mellow Kurt Vile tone, you can tell that this collection of tracks symbolises a more forward-thinking and eclectic frontman at the helm, trying new ideas and running with a consistent theme. It may not grab you as much as his previous work, but 'Bottle It In' still makes for a very engaging and compelling listen.