- Clairo’s 2019 debut album Immunity received critical acclaim for its detailed song writing, lo-fi production and aesthetic. There’s variety in Immunity, with soft, up-tempo rock tunes between smooth ballads and importantly, memorable melodies and lyrics. Unfortunately, singer/songwriter Claire Cottrill’s sophomore album Sling doesn’t reach those same heights.

The album’s lead single Blouse was a promising glimpse into the stylistic direction the twenty-two-year-old viral sensation has taken here. The track’s soft, layered vocals capture what feels like it should be a tender moment, but the lyrics are blunt and defeated: “Why do I tell you how I feel / When you’re just looking down my blouse?” It’s a coarse and real frustration delivered with apathy, making those feelings all the more potent. When compared to her first album, Blouse feels more mature lyrically, with a sense of self-assurance. It feels like she’s not trying to prove anything to anyone and is just creating art.

Unfortunately, upon listening to Sling in full it becomes apparent that Blouse gave too much away about the album’s trajectory. While each track independently is fine, the collection feels incredibly lacklustre. There’s an intentional grainy quality throughout, giving a mellow, 1950s feel to the sound, like this is music to be listened to on a record player in your bedroom. But after a while, what should be a subtle and unique effect becomes distracting. There are also very few moments of energy, with the exception being a brief moment in Joanie, a sweet instrumental work named after Cottrill’s dog. This is one of the more interesting tracks on Sling, taking clear influence from Billy Joel’s jazzy piano licks alongside slide guitar and some interesting synths.

Produced alongside extraordinary Grammy and Golden Globe award winner Jack Antonoff with guest backing vocals from Lorde, there’s no doubting the talent behind Sling. It’s clear when listening to the quadruple-layered vocals, the mellow and tender mix of the smooth jazz influenced instrumentals, and the often astute lyrics that there was a lot of heart and skill involved in getting the album to where it is. While impressive technically, it really does feel like too much of the same after only a few songs.

Lyrically, Clairo delves into some beautifully subtle commentary on mental health and the struggle that comes with self-love and expression, while her melodies are more forgettable, particularly when compared with her first album. Immunity showed that it was possible to maintain Clairo’s signature bedroom pop, low energy style while keeping each track feeling fresh and new, Sling unfortunately seems to forget how to achieve that.

- Alison Paris.