Nao  - Jupiter

While her 2021 album ‘And Then Life Was Beautiful’ very much arrived in the shadow of the COVID-19 crisis, Nao still managed to conjure up a dose of sensual light from the within the darkness, even in the middle of facing her own tough circumstances. Diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ahead of its release, the Londoner soon made the decision not to tour the record, in favour of focusing on her own health and happiness; on its follow-up, ‘Jupiter’, the impact of that decision very much shows. Even the track titles of her fourth album (‘Elevate’, ‘Happy People’, ‘Better Days’) nod to the sense of joy and hope that radiates from the heart of the album, while opener ‘Wildflowers’ sparkles with a serene, unfettered energy that blends into the rest of its songs. From the funky, overblown guitar solo of ‘Elevate’ through to the delicious beats of ‘We All Win’, it’s also clear that Nao is having a lot of fun musically, moving fluidly through sonic styles and moods, digging into a sound that feels wonderfully nostalgic and present all at the same time. In astrology, Jupiter is usually said to represent growth, healing and good fortune, and here, Nao’s fourth more than lives up to its moniker.