6 November 2026 – La Roux Returns With Old Flames and Transforms Personal Upheaval Into Glorious Alternative Pop

British singer-songwriter Elly Jackson, better known as La Roux, has released her fourth studio album Old Flames following a six-year gap between full-length recordings. The album explores the aftermath of a seventeen-year relationship, alongside broader questions about personal identity, dependence and emotional recovery. Jackson wrote, produced, composed and arranged the project herself, maintaining direct creative control over material that represents one of her most personal statements.

Musically, Old Flames moves beyond the sharp electronic-pop sound associated with early hits such as "Bulletproof" and "In For The Kill". The new recording incorporates substantial influences from 1990s R&B, contemporary soul and turn-of-the-millennium pop. Opening songs "Cabin Fever" and "Lose Myself" establish a more claustrophobic atmosphere before the album gradually introduces brighter rhythms and more expansive melodies.

Tracks including "To Make Our Love", "Night Vision" and "Babyline" explore the contradictions involved in leaving a relationship while continuing to process its emotional consequences. Rather than presenting the experience exclusively through sadness, Jackson frequently contrasts difficult subject matter with accessible hooks and warm production. The album's arrival also follows renewed live activity, including an Australian tour supporting Hilary Duff.

Old Flames demonstrates that returning to music after a lengthy absence need not involve recreating the material that originally established an artist's reputation. Sometimes the most convincing comeback involves abandoning an old image and discovering what remains underneath. Apparently becoming emotionally bulletproof is considerably less important than learning when a relationship has finally run its course. Discover vibrant synth pop in our indie pop hub and find more reviews in our news archive.