SABRINA CARPENTER

Short n’ Sweet (Island)

Following the release of her extra-caffeinated summer hit, Disney child star turned pop princess Sabrina Carpenter has had the mainstream world in a frenzy awaiting the release of her sixth album, Short n’ Sweet. Although dubbed another overnight success, the Espresso singer has been grinding away at her original material for a decade.

Short n’ Sweet features the country-pop delivery of Please Please Please, a sister song to Tame Impala’s Yes I’m Changing in Don’t Smile and nods in the direction of 00s r’n’b through the cocky caution of Good Graces – while racy highlight Bed Chem features cheeky lyrics and unapologetic innuendos, alike to broody synthpop number Juno.

It’s refreshing to hear a 25-year-old woman touch on her sexuality and desire so freely, and with Carpenter’s dry sense of humour also intact, Short n’ Sweet removes any falsity that might come with a major confessional release in a sea of Dr. Dupes.

words EMMA WAY