John Glacier isn’t concerned with convention. Since her 2021 debut SHILOH: Lost For Words, the London-based artist has carved out a lane of her own by blending cryptic poetry with avant-garde production. Her music operates like a transmission from a parallel dimension, stitched together with half-whispered confessions, off-kilter beats, and a deliberate resistance to structure. With Like a Ribbon, she continues to refine her approach, stretching and warping it into something even more fluid. It’s a record that feels untethered—detached from linear time, slipping between genres like a fading memory, yet hitting with the force of something deeply personal.
This album doesn’t so much announce itself as seep in. Glacier’s voice floats over jittery drum loops and hazy synths, sometimes pushing forward with urgency, other times dissolving into the mix like smoke. The beats—largely helmed by Kwes Darko—are unpredictable but always intentional: basslines coil around brittle hi-hats, synths pulse like strobe lights, and the space between sounds carries just as much weight as the sounds themselves. There’s an eerie calmness to it all, even when the production skews abrasive.
Along the way, Glacier enlists a few choice collaborators to elevate the album’s hazy atmosphere. Sampha drifts in on “Ocean Steppin’,” his voice acting as a warm counterpoint to Glacier’s deadpan delivery, and Eartheater brings a warped, otherworldly energy to “Money Shows.” But it’s Glacier herself who remains the nucleus, anchoring the project with her hypnotic presence and diaristic lyricism. Every line she delivers feels unfiltered, as if we’re eavesdropping on her thoughts before they fully form.
At just 30 minutes, Like a Ribbon doesn’t overstay its welcome—it lingers just long enough to leave an imprint, then vanishes, urging you to hit repeat. It’s an album built for multiple listens, each one revealing new hidden details. John Glacier might not follow traditional rules, but she understands the power of mood and restraint better than most. With Like a Ribbon, she’s crafted something elusive yet unforgettable—a dreamlike album that stays in your head long after the last note fades.
