Perrie

Propulsive rhythms, cheerful guitar riffs, belting vocals—the recipe for cooking up a self-titled debut solo album from Little Mix alum Perrie Edwards makes use of all these ingredients. With Edwards working alongside a healthy helping of cream from the hit songwriter crop—Maegan Cottone (Little Mix, Kylie Minogue), Plested (Lewis Capaldi, Jonas Brothers) and Ed Drewett (One Direction) are among the names credited—<i>Perrie</i> plays out like a masterclass in folk-influenced pop. Opening with the one-two punch of sentimental Ed Sheeran co-write “Forget About Us” and the wry, he’s-just-not-that-into-you wisdom of “If He Wanted to He Would”, Edwards strikes a plain-talking, open-hearted chord that resonates throughout the entire album. “Rocket Scientist” builds up a scene of romantic disconnection into a charged anthemic chorus; “Punchline” soundtracks a sardonic look on the bright side of life’s trials and tribulations with polished funk production; the midtempo “Absofuckinglutely” narrates a marriage proposal that receives an unambiguously emphatic response. The album’s most intriguing moments however, veer away from stomp-clap optimism and waggish lyrics to maximise Edwards’ undeniable vocal talents. While the light and breezy cuts on <i>Perrie</i> go down easy, the standouts are “Goodbye My Friend” and “Miss You”—a sensational R&B ballad penned with Tre Jean-Marie and MNEK—both of which call to mind early-career Mariah Carey.