Narc. Magazine Online
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Isabel Johnson discovers a cohesive and impressive sophomore release from the alt. pop songwriter
Polydor
Released 10.04.26
It’s only just April, and 2026 feels already overflowing with excellent new music – and, if you’re tuned into the alternative pop scene, you likely already know that Holly Humberstone is behind lots of it. Following on from three of the strongest anticipatory singles I have heard in a remarkably long time (Die Happy, To Love Somebody, Cruel World), Humberstone’s sophomore album bursts out of its cage on 10th April.
The impressively cohesive record spans themes of love, euphoria, fairytales, fear and a whole lot of gothic charm, packed into twelve earworm-y, addictive tracks. Some of them feel very familiar, reminiscent perhaps of Humberstone’s earlier works, but there’s a hefty load of evolution mixed in there too. Lyrically, it’s her strongest work yet – there are some one-liners so good they’ll make you feel a little sick to your stomach. Second album curse: successfully – and wholeheartedly – evaded.
