Though
Who the Power
was
Liela Moss
' second solo album, its blend of her time-tested strengths and adventurous moves truly launched her as an artist on her own terms. With
Internal Working Model
, she builds on that record's ambition, giving her songs a greater scope while further honing her point of view. Inspired by her passion for attachment theory as well as her work with children's social services,
Moss
' third album explores how important -- and difficult -- it is to preserve empathy in an increasingly disconnected society. She expresses this struggle by setting the smoky heat of her voice against electronics that range from clinically precise to imposingly impersonal. It's a contrast that has worked well since her collaborations with
Massive Attack
, and sounds particularly striking on "Empathy Files," where
embodies an uncaring system over an unhurried but relentless mechanical churn, and on "New Day," where she beckons listeners to "feel the empathy" over textures that are too active to be merely calming. Since
is an album about finding and valuing connection, it's no surprise that its duets are among the highlights.
Gary Numan
is a perfect fit for "Vanishing Shadows"' chilly tones and spiky melody;
Jehnny Beth
's intuitive performance on "Ache in the Middle" enriches its portrait of lingering childhood trauma; and
Dhani Harrison
bolsters
' urgency on "Love as Hard as You Can." On her own, she delivers some of her most emotionally wide-ranging fare. She's fiery on "Come and Find Me," a call to break free of social media's false intimacy; on "The Wall from the Floor," she's haunted and haunting. Though it's often a slower burn than
,
reaffirms
is an artist with something to say and a distinctive way of saying it. ~ Heather Phares