My Brightest Diamond - This Is My Hand

Four albums in (not counting a remix album) and Shara Worden has decided to mix things up a bit. Coming out of the blocks sounding like Sufjan Steven's labelmate (which she is), Pressure is a fantastic opening track that confirms your understanding of her work while totally confounding it. She uses a brush of noise to make the heady segway from beautiful ballad to almost dance number.

Worden sets the bar high for the rest of this album. She doesn't ever quite reach those heights again, but she uses her tuneful ear, operatic voice and skilful arrangements to great effect.

One of the greatest strengths of this offering is a melding of styles. 'Lover Killer' sounds like a standard fayre ballad until it reaches the chorus. Here it melds into a disco stomp that sounds reminiscent of Florence + the Machine. 'Looking at the Sun' is an operatic number which feels soulful and silky smooth. 'Resonance' is a soundscape of voice and drums, while closing track 'Apparition' ends the whole thing on a slow crecendo.

The album as whole is a strong offering. Worden could shift a few more sales with this one, particularly with the single 'Pressure' - one of the best things released this year.