8/10

When Mahalia released her hotly-tipped debut album 'Love And Compromise' in 2019, it was greeted with almost unanimous praise and acclaim from across the new music spectrum. Establishing herself as one of the brightest names to have arrived that year, the proceeding years saw her venture upon a number of high-profile collaborations and EP releases, building her name and presence on the scene even more. And after a few months of buzz building once again, she returns with her eagerly-awaited sophomore full-length 'IRL', a record that sees her take the next steps in her evolution to date.

While 'Love And Compromise' certainly moved the needle for both her and her contemporaries doing the rounds, 'IRL' feels like a bold step to become an even bigger superstar this time around. Finding her in a more confident and assured light throughout, Mahalia feels far more adventurous and inventive this time around. With the production of the record notably more impactful and vibrant from start to finish, she is moving from promising young starlet to one of the more progressive artists on the rise right now.

Although the songwriting and general tone of this release feels more in line to what she first emerged with, there is this wonderfully free and creative spark running the length of 'IRL' that truly sets it apart. Brimming with fresh and electrifying textures at every turn, she is more than ready to break into the wider world with this one.