Sarah Blasko has returned from her self-imposed exile in Europe with a new record, I Awake, showing as always that she is not afraid to push her creative boundaries and with magnificent results.

The Sydney songstress self-produced the album in a studio in Sweden and also employed the musical talents of the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra to play throughout. On this, her fourth LP, Blasko’s songwriting has certainly matured as she explores themes of self-contemplation, relationships and looking to the future.

The strongest aspect of this album by far is the pure and honest conviction behind every word. Blasko takes the audience through a journey of her trials and tribulations, drawing strength from the quiet yet eerily powerful quality of her voice. It isn’t long before you find yourself completely immersed in her musings, beautifully complimented by the full 52-piece orchestra.

Opening track, I Awake, is carried by a constant tribal-like drumming as Blasko declares, “I’m awake, I’m not scared” in her distinctive husky tones. She is poised perfectly between fragility and power in an effortless and unique way.

Other tracks such as Bury This and God Fearing embody an underground jazz-club kind of feel, utilising subtle drum-beats and a simplistic bass line that draws the listener deeper into her stories.

An Oyster, A Pearl, is the only track to feature Blasko’s voice alone with merely a piano accompaniment proving a dramatic contrast to the rest of the album and signalling a definitive shift in tone. The focus is much more on the lyrics, which once again highlight her unique voice.

As a producer Blasko has succeeded in creating a wealth of interesting and memorable moments in each song. The way she has sculpted the orchestral sounds around her own lyrics, complimenting each other at every turn, will no doubt captivate audiences all over again.

- Clare Armstrong.