Though he's only 21, Alfie Templeman has already established himself on playlists and festival line-ups, cementing his status as an indie-pop prodigy with early EP cuts like Circles and Happiness in Liquid Form. Even back then, there was an impression that Alfie had something about him that set him apart from his more conventional pop peers, and with his sophomore album, Radiosoul, he expertly proves his credentials. The product of a period of great upheaval and personal growth (moving out and living independently is a big change for anyone, but even more so when you're battling touring burnout, social media overstimulation, and mental health issues), the LP is an exploratory work that draws on the high art pop of Scissor Sisters (“Eyes Wide Shut,” “Drag”), Declan McKenna's sun-drenched indie (“Vultures,” “Hello Lonely”) and Nile Rodgers' club-ready disco (literally, with the funk legend himself guesting on guitar on “Just A Dance”).
Elsewhere, the influence of Alfie's other collaborators, such as The Vaccines' Justin Young and cult producer Dan Carey, comes to the fore, with “Beckham” showcasing a flair for crunchy textures and catchy hooks (“Sutton, Bexley, Tooting, Earlsfield / Streatham, Peckham, David Beckham” is perfect for call-and-response sing-alongs at festival venues). Maturity here doesn't mean austerity or restraint, but rather open-mindedness and joyous confidence. A technicolor triumph, Radio Soul is his most ambitious and maximally forward-thinking work to date, showcasing Alfie Templeman as not only “good for his age” but a mature artist with the confidence to rub shoulders with the industry's best.