Juniper (Uk) [LP], Joy Crookes, Vinyl

A stunningly candid and fearless body of work, 'Juniper' reaffirms Joy as one of the UK's most vital and original voices. A once-in-a-generation talent, Crookes delivers a record that is both emotionally raw and sonically rich; humorous, heartbreaking and profoundly human. Following the success of her 2021 debut 'Skin', which earned BRIT and Mercury Prize nominations, went Top 5 in the UK charts, and drew acclaim from The Guardian, NME and many more, Joy set out to make an album that pushed her further both musically and personally. 'Juniper' is the result: a project defined by it's depth and dynamism. Written with a stripped-back approach and produced by long-time collaborators including Blue May (Kano, Jorja Smith), Tev'n (Stormzy) and Harvey Grant (Arlo Parks), 'Juniper' features standout guest appearances from Vince Staples on the incendiary 'Pass the Salt' and Kano on the bittersweet confessional 'Mathematics'. Crookes describes the record as 'more nuanced' than 'Skin': 'With Juniper, every situation is visceral and I'm very much in it. It's me in the centre of it all'. The title itself nods to resilience (an evergreen that thrives in harsh conditions) and the album dives deep into themes of body politics, mental health, queer love, anxiety, industry hypocrisy and the ecstasy (and terror) of falling in love. Lead singles like 'Pass the Salt' and 'I Know You'd Kill' showcase Crookes' lyrical agility - blending poetic detail with razor-sharp wit. Meanwhile, the euro-pop inspired 'First Last Dance' channels euphoric melodies to mask deep emotional struggle, and the cinematic 'Perfect Crime' sees Joy fully self-actualise in the style of a Western showdown. On 'Paris', the closing track, Joy reflects on a formative queer relationship: 'Something I feared so much finally, actually felt like love'. It's a sentiment echoed across 'Juniper' - a record that captures the beauty and brutality of emotional openness. The album arrives after a period of personal upheaval for Crookes, including a mental health crisis that shadowed the album's creation. 'I was in the trenches', she says. 'But the studio became my solace. What you hear is live and direct from that time'. Despite the darkness, 'Juniper' radiates warmth, levity, and life, powered by Crookes' ever-restless creativity and artistic excellence.