''HIT ME HARD AND SOFT (BLUE)'' By Billie Eilish

Singer-Songwriter Billie Eilish has returned with a brooding, introspective, and adventurous record as her follow up to Happier than Ever. With ''Hit Me Hard and Soft,'' the listener is drawn into a complex, fragile, and brilliant world of pain, loss, and exploration both sonically and lyrically.

The albums opener “Skinny”, eases you in with mellow guitar and Billie’s gentle voice floating above it, pulling you into what feels like drifting clouds of vulnerability and a true out of body experience, as the longing displayed in the lyrics and raw phrasing of the three words “I still cry”, supported by strings, hit the heart hard.

The album’s energy picks up with the straight-forward beats and driving atmospheres of “Lunch”, waking you up with playfulness and flirtatious charm.

As the album continues, it falls deeper into the ocean of Eilish’s mind, enhanced by the astute creative contributions of her co-writer, producer /brother Finneas. The two weave in subtle electronic atmospheres, and slight elements of funk in certain places, as well as impressive and innovative alterations of her voice at the end of “The Diner”.

The album concludes with “Blue” and ''Hit Me Hard and Soft”, a mix of mid-tempo electro pop, which descends into a dreamlike trance created by atmospheric vocals and the crushing lyrics “You were born reaching for your mother’s hands, victim of your father’s plans to rule the world”.

'' Hit Me Hard and Soft'' is a true sonic and lyrical journey into one’s inner world, conveying wonder, sadness, loss, and a global emotional depth that gently grabs the listener, inviting you in to explore a complex inner world. Just make sure you are prepared to experience this album, not just listen to it.