Alice Merton - Visions (2026)
Visions feels like the moment where Alice Merton stops proving herself and starts owning her space. There’s a confidence here that doesn’t rely on bombast or reinvention, but on refinement: tighter songwriting, broader dynamics, and a clearer emotional through-line. The album sounds like someone who knows exactly what they want to say — and, more importantly, what they don’t need anymore.
What works best is the balance between propulsion and restraint. The rhythmic backbone is still central, but it’s no longer the main event; it’s a framework that allows melodies and lyrics to breathe. When the hooks arrive, they feel earned rather than forced, and when the songs slow down, they don’t collapse into filler. There’s a sense of control over pacing that was only hinted at on earlier releases.
Lyrically, Visions trades immediacy for perspective. Instead of confrontation, there’s reflection; instead of raw defiance, there’s self-assessment. That shift gives the album more longevity. Even the more anthemic moments carry an undercurrent of doubt or distance, which keeps the record from tipping into motivational platitudes.
Production-wise, the album is clean but not sterile. The sound is wide, occasionally cinematic, yet grounded enough to avoid drifting into anonymous alt-pop territory. Electronic textures and guitar lines are used as accents rather than crutches, and Merton’s voice sits confidently at the center — expressive, steady, and emotionally legible.
Visions lands as a genuinely strong statement: not a dramatic reinvention, but a mature consolidation of identity. It’s an album that rewards attention, grows with familiarity, and confirms Alice Merton as an artist more interested in durability than immediacy.
Genre: Indie Pop
Country: UK
Final Verdict: 73% (Very Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 2nd / 41
Highlight: (both added to my 2026 best of)
Visions
Boogie Man
Made me think of:
Marina
Florence + The Machine
Wolf Alice
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#IndiePop #AliceMerton #UK
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