October – aka Emma Logan – began work on Ultra Red with other producers, unfamiliar territory for an artist used to making music from her bedroom. In an interview, Logan said the record was largely finished around August last year – but instead of sending it off, she called her management, asked for all the stems back, and re-produced the entire album again, by herself.
The resulting album is a mixed bag, with certain songs never quite reaching their potential, and others soaring. But the fact that an artist with major-label distribution retained such control over her debut album is an indication of Logan's preternatural maturity as an artist.
Logan hits excellence when she shows restraint, her more measured tracks able to retain the most energy without getting bogged down by production trickery. The album's hat-trick starts with Candy Talk, on which an aggressive kick-drum propels Logan towards a cinematic power chorus that unleashes her stunning vocal range. Following track All She Does Is Stare is absolute pop genius, finding an irresistible meeting ground between Grimes and Avril Lavigne; the track's relentless beat and reverb-heavy chorus deliver an elated celebration of the strength of women. Afterward, Interlude/All I Wanted to Feel offers spacious, ambient breathing room.
