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CRITIC REVIEWS
100
Frankly, ‘Any Human Friend’ is all bangers, all the time. The Blondie-esque ‘the one’ is by Marika’s own account likely the most ‘pop’ song she’s ever written, but there is not a single low point on the album. Really, we’re not exaggerating here. Marika Hackman for President of Everything.
100
None of these passionate songs hold any answers, but they capture that tossing-and-turning fervour meticulously, and on the closing title track, she arrives at gentle self-acceptance, sweetly reminding you that though “everybody wants to be made of stone”, we’re all just messy flesh and blood.
93
This album—a treasure trove of zippy guitar hooks, glimmering synths and lemony vocals expertly curated by Hackman—is all about human connection. She hones in on her emotional and sexual connections both to herself and others post-breakup.
90
Not so much Marika 3.0 as the Marika who was always there, but tougher, stronger and more triumphant than ever.
82
Her third record is a continuation of that organic growth, a resplendent piece of pop/rock/folk that is as beguiling musically as it is lyrically blunt.
80
Any Human Friend is an explosive body of work, one that isn’t afraid to discuss sex and female eroticism with a microscopic lens.
80
The arrangements are sharper, the choruses bigger, and the reference points more ’80s than ever before. This is crystallised on the earworm ‘I’m Not Where You Are’, which is an irresistible slice of retro new-wave synth-pop.
80
From the arresting cover to the startling contents, Any Human Friend signals Hackman’s coming of age as an artist with real purpose and star power.
80
With Any Human Friend, British singer-songwriter Marika Hackman largely ditches her folk leanings and makes a sharp, emotionally resonant statement.
80
The record peaks in its first four tracks, definitely, but even so, the album never falls short of hot and sticky - in a good way. In the best way. 'Any Human Friend' is powerful, sexy, and self-assured - pretty much exactly what we expected from Marika, but even better.
80
A blunt, bold album on which Hackman’s beatific voice sits atop methodically messy instrumentals.
80
Any Human Friend is Hackman's most attention-demanding work to date, and positions her as one of the most refreshing voices in British music right now.
80
Hackman flits between self-reflection and self-loathing with ease, starkly unpicking her anxieties over fuzzy guitar on her most accomplished record to date.
80
This record will be described as sexy and filthy but it is also heart-breaking and grotesque and beautiful and funny and complex.
80
It’s a giant leap from We Slept At Last.
75
Any Human Friend confirms that Hackman has successfully carved out a particular place for herself in a crowded indie rock scene: no other rocker is making reliably catchy pop tunes with this level of confidence and honest complication.
73
The British singer-songwriter’s third album is a singular, extraordinarily horny, and occasionally bleak pop record largely about the complexities of queer desire.
70
While I'm Not Your Man suggested Hackman had belatedly discovered indie rock, Any Human Friend plays like her hip pop move, with plenty of keyboards and drum machines holding down the backing tracks and Hackman layering glossy harmonies around her vocals.
Marika Hackman is a wiseguy. Her lyrics oscillate between spikey barbs and intimate desires without shifting in tone. Following her compelling (if not lengthy) sophomore effort, Hackman returns with her silver tongue and some added synths to rake herself and her lovers over the coals. The songs are catchy, and the guitar hooks are quite satisfying. 'come another' has a fantastic hook and lyrics that capture Hackman's often self-deprecating images. For example, 'So Keep a cradle warm for me/ I ... read more
If you've followed my account, which I won't assume you have, you'll know just how impressed I've been with this years slew of albums released by female singer/songwriters. I really have yet to be disappointed by what I've heard, and this Marika Hackman album is no exception.
Any Human Friend is a practice in intimacy, both with warm and inviting vocalization and personal songwriting. On top of all of this intimacy is instrumentation that is at times soft and easy and at other times hooky and ... read more
An awesomely catchy, exhilarating indie pop record I am absolutely in love with. A great end-of-the-summer listen you shouldn't miss.
Some very cool moments in here, but they're all dragged by Marika's run of the mill performances and songwriting.
Baby's first indie rock album
A wonder(lust)fully mischievous lp exposing every nook and cranny of Hackman. Centred around sex and sexual expression, she opens up about her experiences in coming to terms with what she is, concluding on the closer with the titular track, with better knowledge of herself and sexuality.
Sex is a big part of this lp and is obvious on first listen, with tracks like “hand solo” revolving around masturbating when lonely and “All Night” (among others) where she is obsessing ... read more
1. 8/10
2. 9/10
3. 10/10
4. 8/10
5. 9/10
6. 8/10
7. 9/10
8. 8/10
9. 9/10
10. 7/10
11. 9/10
album cohesion: 7
album originality: 8
total = 84%
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Track List
- wanderlust
- the one
- all night
- blow
- i'm not where you are
- send my love
- hand solo
- conventional ride
- come undone
- hold on
- any human friend
Year End Lists
| #5 | / | Far Out Magazine |
| #17 | / | God Is In The TV |
| #20 | / | Rough Trade |
| #23 | / | The Independent |
| #23 | / | The Line of Best Fit |
| #26 | / | Under the Radar |
| #32 | / | Paste |
| #33 | / | NBHAP |
| #36 | / | No Ripcord |
| #38 | / | Gigwise |
More Lists
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2y
Wanderlust on vinyl sounds like a completely different master of the song. There’s this additional layer of feedback (that is for sure not the turntable) and it’s a vastly better track for it.
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Added on: May 22, 2019