HATCHIE
LIQUORICE
SECRETLY CANADIAN
★★★★★
Recorded in her native Australia, Harriette Pilbeam’s third album marks her return from LA back to well-signposted shoegaze tendencies. The poppy Sage and shimmering Lose It Again suggest Lush, while Only One Laughing adds a Cranberries twist, and a Cocteau Twins fixation on the title track ensures Robin Guthrie-style guitars. On Carousel, Hatchie adopts Liz Fraser’s melodic sweeps before the woozy Anchor inevitably borrows My Bloody Valentine’s guitars. But if this all seems somewhat derivative, her sometimes sweet, sometimes raw appeal pays off.