Kyla Brox's scintillating, multi-faceted new album, Pain & Glory marks her ascendancy to the very first rank of British singers. Kyla has been a professional musician since the age of twelve – first in her father, Victor Brox's band, then striking out on her own – and Pain & Glory represents the culmination of a quarter of a century's experience on the road and in the studio. The variety and depth of her vocal performances have grown year on year and are given a superb setting in this album's sweeping landscape of soul, blues, urban R&B, blues-rock, and singer-songwriter pop of the highest class. Highlights abound: the retro-soul, slow-burn balladry and melodic momentum of the title track; the jubilant R&B of 'Choose Life'; 'In The Morning' is a swaggering, sensual blues shuffle; 'Manchester Milan', unfurls as a wistful, sophisticated meditation on a cosmopolitan affaire d'amour; 'Lover's Lake' has the gentle, inviting pulse of a Fleetwood Mac b-side; while the hot funk of 'Let You Go' flames with righteous Girl Power brio.