Home · Albums · Olivia Dean · Messy
2023
12 song|s
UFO
Intermediate
Dive
Intermediate
Ladies Room
Advanced
No Man
Intermediate
Dangerously Easy
Intermediate
Getting There (interlude)
Intermediate
Danger
Advanced
The Hardest Part
Intermediate
I Could Be a Florist
Advanced
Messy
Everybody’s Crazy
Intermediate
Carmen
Intermediate
About the album
The production, largely handled by Matt Hales (known as Aqualung), played a crucial role in guiding Dean away from an overly clinical approach. She herself shared in an interview with The Independent that her intention was to create a record that felt like a hug, one that acknowledged we don't always have all the answers. This approach resonated with international critics; NME gave it four out of five stars, highlighting her ability to modernize traditional soul with a charm they described as infinite. Pitchfork, on the other hand, praised Dean's voice, calling it "smoky and elastic," though they noted that some songs leaned towards more conventional pop.
Within Messy, we find tracks that capture the album's essence. The closing track, Carmen, was highlighted by Clash magazine as a "tender and necessary political statement" honoring the Windrush generation with vibrant instrumentation. Other tracks like Dive or Dangerously Easy are also part of this collection of 12 songs that explore different facets of the human experience, demonstrating Dean's versatility. The album was also shortlisted for the Mercury Prize in 2023, a testament to its impact.
Discography
