Sharon Van Etten

Tramp Jagjaguwar****

This Brooklyn singer-songwriter isn’t like many other singer- songwriters; from start to finish her work is shot through with a terseness, toughness and hip quotient factor that fits in with her associations with TV on the Radio, The Antlers and The National (whose Aaron Dessner produces here). Sharon Van Etten’s third studio album in less than four years sees her effortlessly consolidate her position as the bittersweet neo-folk singer-songwriter du jour. Yes, she could be easily classified as a spikier version

of cult female folk singer- songwriters, but there's nothing retro about Van Etten. Rather, with a sssnarl and a gggrrowl she burrows deep into the hinterland of human emotions, uncovering vulnerabilities that often go unnoticed. Highlights are many, disappointments few – and melody reigns supreme. sharonvanetten.com

Download tracks: Give Out, All I Can, We are Fine