Indigo De Souza - Any Shape You Take

On ‘Any Shape You Take’, Indigo De Souza’s slacker rock tendencies are still there, as are her raw, unfiltered lyrics (“I’d rather die / than see you cry,” goes the unlikely hook of ‘Die/Cry’, to name just one), but in making the big moments bigger, there’s both an increase in dynamics and confidence at play. New too is a pop sheen - not that Indigo has smeared her record in stardust, but that opener ‘17’ uses Auto-Tune, ‘Hold U’ brings to mind Haim’s staccato rhythm, and ‘Pretty Pictures’ similarly has ‘80s pop smarts about it. It’s a wonderful juxtaposition to the record’s grungier moments. ‘Darker Than Death’ crashes into life, at once heavy and sparse, creating tension perfectly. ‘Bad Dream’ showcases the sheer emotion her voice is capable of conveying. ‘Way Out’ is another peak, while closer ‘Kill Me’ showcases both her folky inflections and her ability to create a glorious crescendo. It’s simultaneously euphoric and angsty.