So Help Me God

<b>The singer and cellist reflects change and grief on their second album.</b> It’s been seven years since <i>Blood</i>, the 2019 debut full-length from singer and cellist Kelsey Lu that channelled Arthur Russell-esque art pop and Laurel Canyon folk romanticism. In the time since, the North Carolina-born, Brooklyn-based musician has scored two films (the BAFTA-winning <i>Earth Mama</i> and the Netflix documentary <i>Daughters</i>); shared a stage with Debbie Harry; collaborated with Yves Tumor, Boys Noize and Beverly Glenn-Copeland; and released a remix EP (2019’s <i>Blood Transfusion</i>). But despite their impressive multidisciplinary output, Kelsey Lu has described the period as a time of grief, change and renewal, as reflected in their long-awaited second album. With contributions from Sampha, Kamasi Washington and Kim Gordon, it’s an intense but graceful clarification of Lu’s eccentric vision—baroque chamber pop with fuzzy guitar, cinematic swells, a subtle electronic heartbeat and a touch of soul.