It’s clear that Mackenzie Scott has evolved since her 2013 debut as Torres, but perhaps not enough. The tracks that make up ‘Sprinter’, her second album, are bigger, but they are not always better.
Strange Hellos is a promising start - a blueprint of sorts for the album’s strengths - and if the rest of the tracklist followed suit there would be few complaints. One of the more rounded songs on the record, Scott’s vocals drip with disdain as it powers to its conclusion.
New Skin is even more impressive as Scott’s beautifully candid confessions express experience beyond her years. “Lay off me would ya, I’m just trying to take this new skin for a spin,” she sings at one point. Later, exhaustion sets in: “I am a tired woman, in January I will just be 23.”
But, there’s one problem. Simply put, it’s too long. The song builds to what seems like a perfect cadence, but is then drawn out for another two minutes. In reality, the decision does nothing but dull the impression the first three have made.
Son You Are No Island is another example of Torres’ meandering intentions. It bounces back and forth nicely between reserved and unhinged, but at no stage does it commit enough to either to have any significant impact. Admittedly, though, the lyrics do have a certain sting: “Son you’re not a man yet, you fucked with a woman who would know.”
Torres is drawing from a wealth of inspiration on this record. But, on Cowboy Guilt there are just too many ideas fighting for prominence, instead of complementing one other. There is much to be said for keeping it simple, as she does on Ferris Wheel. Here, there are nods to the stripped back nature of her first record.
Although Scott has big ideas, she has not yet perfected their execution. ‘Sprinter’ shows exceptional potential, but it’s a potential that currently remains unfulfilled.
Torres Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Mon September 21 2015 - BRISTOL Louisiana
Tue September 22 2015 - MANCHESTER Manchester Deaf Institute
Wed September 23 2015 - LONDON Scala
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