ALBUM: Lana Del Rey 'Honeymoon'

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“We could cruise to the blues” croons New York singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey on her opening track to new album Honeymoon – and what an apt way to describe listening to her fourth full record. Following in the footsteps of her self-titled album (2010), Born To Die (2012), and Ultraviolence (2014); Honeymoon is an ode to indulgent, all-consuming love – and a shining example of Del Rey’s ability to transform morbid heartache in to the aural equivalent of a silver-screen romance.

Lana Del Rey often divides both critical and public opinion; but she is the owner of two Brit-awards and is currently the most streamed female artist on Spotify in the United States. Del Rey admits on her irresistibly cinematic eponymous opening track “it’s not fashionable for you to love me” which may be true – but it’s too easy to be swept away by the grand strings and her iconic, majestic voice on Honeymoon.

‘Music To Watch Boys To’ smoulders with slow-burning desire, and Del Rey’s breathy vocals highlight the bittersweet joy of romantic voyeurism: “Nothing gold can stay, like love or lemonade”. On ‘Terrence Loves You’ she states “Hollywood legends will never grow old” – a mantra which Del Rey almost lives by, having branded herself “a gangsta Nancy Sinatra”.

Whilst the tracks listed above showcase Del Rey’s vocal ability, ‘High By The Beach’ is the most laid-back, memorable song on the record. It’s a trippy, hip-hop infused summer tune which will make you wish you were on a beach in Malibu, tequila sunrise in hand, watching the sun set. Del Rey’s lower vocal tone and casual, dismissive delivery of lines like “The truth is I never bought in to your bulls**t” and “You can be bad motherf****r, but that don’t make you a man” will fill listeners with opulent attitude.

‘The Blackest Day’ is not something you’d expect to encounter on a Honeymoon, but Del Rey has previously written songs from a place of loneliness, to combat personal isolation and find connection. This track is her attempt to go “deeper and deeper, harder and harder, darker and darker” in the pursuit of love in “all the wrong places”. Fortunately, the dreamy music prevents the song from becoming emotionally draining.

The grandeur of ‘Swan Song’, with its echoic intro and belief that “nothing could stop the two of us, if that’s what we want, we could just get lost” is pure romantic escapism. The album closes with ‘Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood’ – an apt title choice for a singer who has often made controversial comments in interviews about issues surrounding feminism and mortality.

Honeymoon is an album designed to drive you to distraction and back – so don’t apply the brakes; let your heart accelerate at full speed. Throw away your rose-tinted lenses and replace them with Del Rey’s crimson sunglasses, and view life and love in its deepest, darkest, most romantic shades.

Honeymoon is out now via UMG Recordings.