Grammy-winning producer, songwriter and performer La Roux returns with her much-anticipated fourth album, Old Flames, out on 6 November! Having worked with Tyler, The Creator, CASISDEAD, Skream and Skrillex, and sold millions of records worldwide, La Roux has also inspired and been sampled by artists including French Montana, Tion Wayne, Mavado and Major Lazer. And with Old Flames, she continues to reinvent pop music.
Written, composed, produced and arranged entirely by La Roux (Elly Jackson), Old Flames confronts the collapse of a 17-year relationship, delving into forbidden love, the loneliness of addiction, and the struggle to come to terms with sexuality and identity under constant public scrutiny.
Steady rain and the sound of windscreen wipers ease listeners into ‘Old Flames (Intro)’, which begins quietly before gradually building. If it feels unfinished, that’s only because it’s the intro. ‘Cabin Fever’ kicks off the album proper, combining keyboards, drum tracks and La Roux’s distinctive voice. We know this will be considered a quintessential La Roux track! It’s full of longing for a past version of yourself and for relationships that have run their course. Through lyrics exploring the feeling of being trapped in a situation and persona that no longer fit the person you are becoming, La Roux is shedding her skin – not just on this track, but across the album.
‘Lose Myself’ is another reflective track. It explores how easy it is to lose yourself in another person and struggle to regain your sense of identity, with music providing an escape from the reality of a suffocating relationship. The electronic soundscape is layered without sounding cluttered or overproduced. Crickets and crashing waves feature in the background during the first half of the song, while haunting synthesisers run throughout. The chorus is catchy, danceable and nostalgic—this is sure to be a popular track on the album!
‘To Make Our Love’ explores the difficulties of starting a new relationship and finding that you’re not necessarily on the same page as the other person. It’s something many listeners will relate to: wanting more from someone than they’re willing to give. These themes continue into the next track, ‘Your Lover’, which discusses forbidden love and what it means to be the other person. The synths and drum track give the song an uptempo feel, despite the longing expressed in the lyrics. There’s a sense of trying to find yourself within a relationship that runs hot and cold, all while living in the public eye.
‘Final Fantasy’ and ‘Night Vision’ feel exploratory, yet very similar. Both capture the idealised freedom of exploring sexuality and romance after leaving a long relationship. They’re playful yet vulnerable at the same time. La Roux’s vocals take centre stage throughout the album, with the keyboards and other instrumentation providing a backdrop that plays to her strengths.
The title track, ‘Old Flames (Reprise)’, expands on the intro, bringing the album to a satisfying close. The cyclical nature of the tracks reflects the romantic cycles we often find ourselves trapped in, conveyed through raw, honest lyrics and carefully composed music.
The album feels mature, not just lyrically but vocally and sonically. Every track feels complete and well-produced, with every element seeming deliberate and nothing superfluous. There’s a strong thematic presence throughout, although some tracks do tend to blend into one another. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it makes for a smooth listening experience.
If you only know La Roux from her first album, we urge you to give Old Flames a listen! La Roux is currently touring the UK and Europe, with dates in North America coming up in early 2027.