Kiesza’s second album (the Canadian’s first since her folk-to-pop rebrand) opens on a high with Hideaway, her 90s-drenched No 1, but from here on, nothing quite matches the single’s deserved hype. The exploration of various styles, from the retro dance-pop of No Enemiesz to R&B ballads such as Piano, sparks a few moments of interest (Joey Bada$$’s appearance on Bad Thing is a particular highlight), but this medley of genres leaves the album feeling fragmented and inauthentic. Ultimately, too many promising tracks fall flat, and Kiesza’s strong, emotive voice is forced to do all the heavy lifting.
