John Glacier  - Like A Ribbon

‘Like A Ribbon’ is an astonishingly confident debut from John Glacier, the Londoner’s sound showing itself as all-encompassing. The record feels otherworldly at times, the rotating arcade synths of ‘Emotions’ creating a buoyant atmosphere devoid of gravity; the lo-fi guitar and scratchy vocals of ‘Satellites’ emitting an intimacy akin to listening to a personal voice note. The anxiety-fuelled ‘Nevasure’ is contrasted wonderfully by the euphoric glitchy rhythms of ‘Found’, providing a cathartic release after the previous track’s panic. Highlight ‘Dancing In The Rain’ has her stating “I’ll be dancing in the street, let them think I’m insane,” weightless and breathless, unburdened by worry or stress; by never leaning into trying too hard to sell an emotion, John’s delivery is all the more effective. Executive producer Kwes Darko provides the album with a sense of floating character as infectious beats collide with John’s casual-but-distinct vocal style, while guests including Eartheater and Sampha enter the fray, but never steal the spotlight. A masterclass in an emotional build and release, ‘Like A Ribbon’ is a fascinating release.