Heart-Shaped Scars is a studio album by Scottish singer Dot Allison. It was released on 30 July 2021 through SA Recordings. It received generally favorable reviews from critics.
Background Previously, Allison released Afterglow (1999), We Are Science (2002), Exaltation of Larks (2007), and Room 7½ (2009). Heart-Shaped Scars was her first studio album in 12 years. The album, produced by Allison and Fiona Cruickshank, was released on 30 July 2021 through SA Recordings.
Allison later released The Entangled Remix EP (2022), which contains remixes of tracks from Heart-Shaped Scars by Lee "Scratch" Perry, Anton Newcombe, Saint Etienne, The Anchoress, and Lomond Campbell.
Critical reception
Peter Piatkowski of PopMatters described the album as "a lovely, intimate collection of beautiful songs that has the singer set aside her trip-hop and dance sounds for an ethereal folk musical direction." He added, "There's heartache, pain, and longing in the songs, but there's also an inspired inspiration from that pain resulting in some very touching and beautiful music." Joe Muggs of The Arts Desk stated, "Where previously her records sounded like explorations of styles, ... this feels 100% like she has found her sound." Tim Sendra of AllMusic called it "the most intimate and sincere-sounding album she's made yet." Ben Cardew of Pitchfork wrote, "It is an album of quiet delights, but at times it feels like the songs are simply stretched too thin: three-star meals served with five-star service."
Accolades + Year-end lists for Heart-Shaped Scars Publication List Rank AllMusic Favorite Singer/Songwriter Albums
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from liner notes.
Dot Allison – production, field recordings Fiona Cruickshank – production, engineering, mixing Stuart Hamilton – additional recording, additional engineering Homay Schmitz – additional recording, additional engineering Su-A Lee – string fixing Heba Kadry – mastering Michelle Henning – artwork, design Essy Syed – portrait photography
References
Further reading
External links