British pop singer-songwriter Anne-Marie is known for EDM-leaning tracks topped with her propulsive, slightly twangy vocal. But despite a decade of chart ubiquity, it’s been difficult to get a sense of who she actually is: her biggest releases have been collaborations with the likes of Clean Bandit. Unhealthy, her third solo album, remains in thrall to its features (highlights include the Mambo No 5-interpolating Psycho with rapper Aitch, and the country lilt of the title track, featuring Shania Twain). But Anne-Marie does sound freer and more playful in her own right, toying with more ambitious instrumentation (rock, orchestral) alongside the dance-pop and ballads.
The album’s first half finds her announcing that “it’s so last year, being a sad bitch”, going toe-to-toe with Aitch about which of them is most toxic in a relationship, before tentatively softening into feeling love and happiness in the second half. Elements of the production feel grating and overwrought, You & I (featuring Khalid) feels ready for a Love Island tie-in, and some of the lyrics are too tritely #empowerment facing (there are, of course, lines about learning to love oneself). But it’s broadly a fun record that’s pushing to be more raw and upfront than she has managed before.
