Review

Rebecca Lucy Taylor's third record as SELF ESTEEM arrives with the weight of expectation pressing heavily upon its shoulders. Following the Mercury Prize-nominated "Prioritise Pleasure," Taylor returns with a collection that doesn't merely continue her artistic trajectory – it launches it into the stratosphere with magnificent defiance. "A Complicated Woman" is exactly what it proclaims to be: a gloriously messy, perfectly imperfect exploration of modern womanhood that refuses to be neatly packaged. Where its predecessor felt like a battlecry, this album feels like the complicated peace that follows – the understanding that revolution is not just in the fighting but in the everyday living. Taylor's voice remains her most formidable instrument – at times vulnerable and intimate, at others soaring with operatic power. The Sheffield-born artist has mastered the art of vocal arrangements, layering choral elements that feel simultaneously ecclesiastical and deeply corporeal. The production, thick with percussion and unexpected sonic flourishes, creates a landscape that's both familiar and startlingly new. Thematically, Taylor continues her exploration of femininity, desire, and self-worth, but with an added layer of nuance. There's less rage here (though it still flashes brilliantly when needed) and more consideration of the grey areas – the contradictions that make us human. The album's standout tracks balance anthemic choruses with lyrical intimacy that feels like secrets whispered directly into your ear. What makes SELF ESTEEM such a vital voice in British music is her refusal to sand down her edges. In an industry that continues to expect women to be digestible and uncomplicated, Taylor has created an album that celebrates the glorious mess of authentic existence. "A Complicated Woman" isn't just a great album – it's an important one. It's the sound of an artist who understands that true liberation isn't about having all the answers, but about being brave enough to ask the questions. And in doing so, Rebecca Lucy Taylor has created something that feels genuinely revolutionary: pop music that doesn't just reflect life, but helps us understand how to live it better.