ONEREPUBLIC

Artificial Paradise (Interscope)

Every band evolves over time, and OneRepublic’s sixth album Artificial Paradise shifts towards a more chilled, pop sound whilst still retaining the catchiness for which the Colorado band are known. The string-led raucousness of their giant, decade-old hit Counting Stars is replaced with feet-tapping anthems befitting festival season.

If you watched Top Gun: Maverick in the cinemas two years ago, you’d have been given a taster of I Ain’t Worried – a joyful track that includes a harmonious whistling chorus – while David Guetta team up I Don’t Wanna Wait might just be the best party track of the summer, Ryan Tedder’s soulful voice really coming to the fore here.

Runaway, Sink Or Swim, Red Light Green Light and Serotonin are also noteworthy – to say nothing of Fire having been chosen as the just-finished Euro 2024 tournament’s official song – and instrumental numbers, Singapore and Entr’acte, give Artificial Paradise a grand, classical sound.

words DAVID JAMES