Olivia Broadfield - This Beautiful War

Olivia Broadfield - U.K. singer/songwriter tones down the electronics on her second album of charmed keyboard pop, moving away from the Imogen Heap-styled synth-beats of her debut Eyes Wide Open and heading in a more piano and guitar focused style that she says is a throwback to her roots...new project, like her first, was recorded at her home studio in the English countryside // Release: This Beautiful War (November 22) //  Sounds like: Broadfield's breezy, ultra-melodic pop  -- she calls her music "big lush sounds wrapping up delicate little songs" -- have been potent fodder for TV licensing, or synching as they say in the biz...while her glossy Eyes seemed focused on commercial, if personally revealing, songcraft, War expands the canvas with a nice balance of ticking balladry and songs that move with a bright, rhythmic spark...

Quote: “I grew up playing the piano and it felt right on the second album to make it all a bit more real…there’s still the odd swirl and squawk from my synths, but the heart of this album is in the songs where it’s just me and a piano”. // What we like: there's little in the way of stylistically groundbreaking approaches here but clearly Broadfield has a keen ear for a simply adorned melody as on the pensive, confessional "Happening" and "Miss Me"...the energized "Daydreams", with layers of off-beat rhythms leading the way, and the catchy, aptly titled "Push" keep the moods varied and generally upbeat...

Olivia Broadfield - "The Way That I'm Feeling" (from This Beautiful War)

Olivia Broadfield - "Happening" (from This Beautiful War)