CONAN GRAY Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Conan Gray revisits the corvine world of his 2020 debut, with three new bonuses as well as new cover art hand-drawn by Gray himself. Among them is 'Bed Rest', a previously unreleased song written during the original album sessions: Gray describes it as a time capsulate presciently mirroring his present state of mind, five years on. Then there're the two live versions: 'Heather (Lost Verse Version)' and 'The Cut That Always Bleeds', both of which provide subtle indication of the upward trajectory, though its maximal vintage pop stylings are kept intact . Kid Krow originally marked Gray's shift from bedroom pop phenom to breakout singer-songwriter; now the expanded edition lands beside a digital release, with physical preorders closing the loop on the very record that launched his career into orbit.

Review: Conan Gray has spoken openly about the catalyst for Found Heaven - an ill-fated toe-step into the murky world of relationships and, then, love, followed by painful heartbreak. The American singer-songwriter was still processing the fallout when the first promo interviews for this record hit the presses. That he says the trauma was worth it speaks volumes about who he is, and the mindset that feeds into his music. It might also be due to the fact Found Heaven is a glorious beast. A thoughtful curveball thrown by a man whose reputation for melancholia is well-known, this is almost like the musical version of what happens to us all after an intense emotional experience - transformation. So, think power balladry, synth-soaked anthems and a kind of 1980s nostalgic experimentation. It's weird and wonderful.