Album Review: Phoenix by Rita Ora

After a six-year gap between albums -- during which time she was involved in a drawn-out legal back-and-forth with her former label -- English-Albanian singer Rita Ora finally issued her sophomore effort, the aptly titled Phoenix. Despite the behind-the-scenes drama that threatened to derail her burgeoning career, Ora maintained public presence with a series of well-performing singles, many of which are included here. Much like contemporary releases from Jess Glynne and Dua Lipa, the strength of Ora's effortless, R&B-inspired vocals carries Phoenix, despite varying musical styles and recording periods, which stretched over two years from 2016 to 2018.

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On her long awaited second album, determined pop star Rita Ora proves good things come to those who wait It's taken six years for Rita Ora to release her second album. Six years that included a very messy, very public breakup with previous label Roc Nation, high-profile quarrels with A-list exes, ventures into acting (a recurring role in the 'Fifty Shades' series) and reality television judging (on The X Factor and The Voice). And now, finally, she singer has risen like a phoenix (see what she did with the album name), to release this long-awaited record.

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The fact that Phoenix arrives to her star power being greater than ever despite this extensive wait is certainly a testimony to her capabilities as a businesswoman, but her continuing success as an artist also comes down to Ora's keen ear for high-quality hits. The majority of these hits make up the first half of the album; "Anywhere" and "Let You Love Me" are the first two tracks on Phoenix - both gorgeous examples of songs that manage to merge a sense of wistfulness with a stubborn determination to stay rooted on the dancefloor. "Your Song" comes in at number five, and again captures what's now become Rita's new calling card of emotionally apprehensive pop blasts.

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Rita Ora's new album is finally here 'Phoenix' following a four year wait, and with a multitude of high-profile collaborations it takes you on the journey of her growth as a singer. The 12-track album - with the deluxe edition boasting four extra songs - starts off with the oddball pop number 'Anywhere' which remains one of her standout singles from last year before hitting her stride with 'Let You Love Me'. The album - which comes after numerous setbacks as far as label and producers are concerned - is a nostalgic yet refreshing collection of songs that oscillates seamlessly between upbeat pop offerings to raw pieces which showcases the 27-year-old's songwriting skills.

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