‘Friend’ is the third album from Bristolian Rozi Plain and it’s an undeniably gorgeous affair, with an amazing range of styles on display. Somehow, it all flows together to make a very impressive album that feels very much a whole rather than scattered ideas.
It opens with the wistful singalong folk-pop of ‘Actually’ which then goes into the summery jazz of ‘Best Team.’ Yet later on we have the krautrcoky ‘Jogalong’ followed by the pastoral ‘Quarry.’ How does she do it?
Make no mistake, this is not just another singer-songrwiter record (Lord knows there have been way too many of those over the years!). What is so wonderful Rozi’s delivery and inventiveness and her collaborators (her band including members of Hot Chip and Francois and the Atlas Mountains, amongst others).
Reportedly it was her brother who got Rozi Plain interested in the guitar. We should all give thanks that he did.
[Rating:4]
Friend is out now on Lost Map.
