Allo Darlin’ is back! And true to character, they don’t kick your door in or huff and puff until your house breaks down. No, their return is like a whisper, opening their Bright Nights LP with the folk ballad Leaves In The Spring, a lullaby of a song where Elizabeth Morris’s voice sounds just wonderful.

Song two, Tricky Questions, sounds more familiar—it’s one of those tracks where the band tests your patience, subtly pulling at your attention strings. It’s with the third song, My Love Will Bring You Home, where muscle memory kicks in: I know this band, I love this band. It’s an essential indie pop song drenched in melancholy and longing. The song is followed by a gorgeous classic indie ballad titled Northern Waters. Historic Times is another song that’s reminiscent of past records.

Overall though, Bright Nights feels like a new version of Allo Darlin’ that fits the band rather well in 2025. The band escapes trying to recapture the magic of their past stuff and instead has created something current and relevant. Cologne and Stars are good examples of how the band leans more towards folk and country than ever before. Bright Nights is closer to 2014’s We Come From The Same Place than to their 2010 debut, but I think it’s best experienced without comparing it to previous output. Let the new Allo Darlin’ slowly win you over on a track-by-track basis.

Bright Nights is out today on Fika Recordings (UK) and Slumberland Records (USA).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp (Slumberland) || Fika (Bandcamp)