6/10

When Swedish singer Tove Lo released her debut album 'Queen Of The Clouds' back in 2014, she was still very much an unheard new artist. Yet that album managed to catapult the vocalist right into the heart of today's music scene. It opened a huge number of doors, allowing her to collaborate with high-profile acts such as Ellie Goulding and Coldplay, bringing her out of her shell and delivering her highly-anticipated follow-up 'Lady Wood'.

Yet while 'Queen Of The Clouds' was an almost pop-by-numbers release, this latest full-length sees her take on a more explorative direction. With its strong feminist overtones and messages, this new record certainly has a lot more to say than its predecessor, but with a lacking in the engaging sound she is best known for. Tove Lo has been the go-to name for memorable and catchy pop tunes over the last few years, yet most of that reputation seems absent on this new record.

'Lady Wood' is still a very fun release in places, but those who loved her debut may be a little disappointed in this new effort. Yet despite its lacking in memorable content, it is clear she is working on a more forward-thinking direction, which should definitely be encouraged.