ALBUM REVIEW: Olivia Dean – Messy

EMI

Released: 30.06.23

Olivia Dean’s long-awaited debut album Messy explores complex emotions through soulful vocals, funky basslines and a euphony of layered harmonies. The album’s title is fitting in the sense that the album is a carefree and joyful depiction of life’s uncertainty. Sonically, the album is far from messy, and Dean seems to have really found her sound in this soul-soaked record.

Its lyrics are confident yet candid, touching on subjects like the fear of realising you’re head over heels in love (Danger and Dive); being in a relationship but wanting your own independence (Ladies Room) and feeling better off alone (No Man). My personal favourites are Dangerously Easy, which features bluesy electric guitar and a funky bassline, and Carmen; an upbeat brassy soul pop track which perfectly concludes the album and sweetly portrays Dean’s admiration for her granny Carmen and the Windrush generation.