British vocalist Paloma Faith returns with her ambitious fourth album, 2017's effusive and sophisticated The Architect. The album follows her platinum-earning 2014 effort A Perfect Contradiction, and once again features a bevy of polished anthems marked by Faith's soulful voice and penchant for hooky, classic-styled R&B, disco, and pop. Joining the singer and former The Voice UK judge are a handful of big-name studio creators including executive producer Jesse Shatkin, Eg White, Starsmith, Klas Ahlund, and others. Also showcased is vocalist John Legend, who pairs with Faith for the uber-romantic duet "I'll Be Gentle." While the inclusion of so many hitmakers could indicate an attempt to smooth out Faith's distinctive style and unique vocal wallop, that isn't the case, and the London-born performer remains as distinctive as ever. Shatkin, who previously worked with the similarly arty yet commercial powerhouse Sia, brings a thoughtful sensibility to the proceedings, framing Faith in the just the right amount of orchestration, horns, and driving basslines. Also evidence of Faith's singular vision here is her collaboration with cult singer/songwriter Ed Harcourt on the arch and moody title track. Not only does it perfectly set the tone for what is to come, but it also works as Faith's best attempt yet at a ferociously pitched James Bond-style theme song. Similarly successful is the Shatkin and Cass Lowe-penned "Kings and Queens," which finds Faith balancing her penchant for throaty, dance-club drama with a synthy, Annie Lennox-esque gravitas. Elsewhere, she digs into several catchy, groove-oriented '70s-style jams on "'Til I'm Done," and the EDM-inflected "My Body."

1		Evolution
2		The Architect
3		Guilty
4		Crybaby
5		I'll Be Gentle
6		Politics of Hope
7		Kings and Queens
8		Surrender
9		Warrior
10		Til I'm Done
11		Lost and Lonely
12		Still Around
13		Pawns
14		WW3
15		Love Me as I Am

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