CD reviews: Lapsley

Recording with the XL label's in-house producer Rodaidh McDonald has proved to be something of a masterstroke for British singer Holly Lapsley Fletcher, who has blended a typically spare approach with widescreen textural washes, taut yet celebratory grooves and various takes on current, electronica-tinged R&B.

Long Way Home might include previous well-received releases, yet there is still room for some nice surprises, including the (almost) straight-up soul of Operator (He Doesn't Call Me) and the haunting organ-led Cliff.

• Lapsley. Long Way Home. XL Recordings.

• Four stars (out of five)

Single download: Operator (He Doesn't Call Me)
For those who like: Amy Winehouse meets Bjork

- Shane Gilchrist