Thea Gilmore - The Counterweight (2 x LP)

Thea Gilmore’s 2017 album The Counterweight blends folk and pop with sharp lyricism and smooth electronic textures. Opening with Fall Together the album delivers poetic resilience over bright beats. The release reflects Gilmore’s shift toward a more expansive sound after years in the UK singer-songwriter scene. It's a bold step forward in both tone and voice.

Rise stands out as an anthem of strength channeling subtle synthpop influences within an acoustic foundation. Leatherette brings a cool edge echoing the late 90s trip hop and dream pop of Beth Orton and Massive Attack. Gilmore embraces a flexible identity without losing her lyrical core or emotional clarity. The record weaves genre and message into a vibrant personal statement.

Her songwriting on The War honors Jo Cox while addressing division and national identity through symbolic storytelling. Tracks like New and Reconcile touch on personal relationships and cultural anxiety with equal depth. Gilmore’s writing blends the political and intimate in the tradition of protest folk. Her voice feels urgent and grounded supported by rich arrangements and thoughtful dynamics.

Released on Cooking Vinyl and co-produced with Nigel Stonier the album balances radio-ready pop with songwriter nuance. Critics at AllMusic praised its genre-blending vision and emotional honesty. The album sits proudly alongside other key British records of the 2010s that bridged mainstream sound and social commentary. The Counterweight is Gilmore at her most fearless focused and musically expansive.