Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory

You wonder whether this might have been the record to elevate Sharon Van Etten to arena status in another era; it is that stylish, that confident.

All of the tracks are enjoyable and illuminating, making Sharon Van Etten & the Attachment Theory a triumph.

From the enveloping and moody opening tracks to the eclectic midsection, Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory stands out for both its depth and breadth.

A more fluid dynamic exists with the full band, and although nods to certain 1980s styles emerge, Van Etten maintains those aspects of her songcraft that make her a celebrated artist. Thus, in Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory, listeners may feel transported to the depths of a gothic cabaret, but they will eventually emerge to the familiar light of day.

If she had gone under a secret moniker with this release, there would have been only a slim chance of guessing that it was the Sharon Van Etten we knew because her signature, fluid voice is hardly recognizable in the other songs, except for “Live Forever”, “Afterlife”, and “Trouble”. Nevertheless, she managed to stay true.

Heard all together, The Attachment Theory, in all its dark beauty and careful questioning, is a most suitable record for our times, and it’s one of the most immediate pieces of art Van Etten has ever signed her name to.

There’s nothing watered-down about Attachment Theory — even with the all-hands-on-deck spirit, Sharon Van Etten’s voice comes through loud and clear.

This new musical approach has left Van Etten sounding refreshed. Whether this album marks the start of The Attachment Theory’s career or just a one-off, it’s a demonstration just how the camaraderie of a band can revitalize your sound.

It affords Van Etten the space to really lean into the role of frontwoman, at times reaching into an almost operatic register. It’s a dramatic and unexpected new chapter for an artist who is rarely less than compelling.

The Attachment Theory highlight fascinating new aspects to Van Etten's craft, like the reflective prisms of precious stone. What is lost in cohesion is made up for by an exploratory freedom that the band revel in, hopping from wistful to explosive to triumphant.

Not a complete reinvention so much as an unexpected left turn that takes the artist at its centre somewhere new.

Pursues the vibe [heard on 2022's We've Been Going About This All Wrong] further, enjoying a kind of midlife techno-goth glow-up, on tracks "Idiot Box" and the incendiary "Indio" coming on like a female-fronted Future Islands or Pet Benatar joining Curve. [Feb 2025, p.43]

She's found a gift for reinvention; the change suits her. [Mar 2025, p.84]

Even with this shared billing, Van Etten remains the album’s undeniable highlight, though she explores a range of vocal approaches outside her trademark wail.

With Sharon Van Etten & the Attachment Theory, the singer/songwriter fully embraces an icy, mechanical post-punk palette, one that still incorporates elements of guitar rock (and is part analog) but is distinguished by drum machines, eerie synths, and prevailing electronics. It's a sound that's well-suited to the album's anxious and alienated songs.

Not all of it works. .... But the ease the band have in each other’s presence is infectious. Balbi’s propulsive drumming drives the record but never overpoweringly so. Letting those atmospheric synths have their moment in the spotlight, or allowing Hoff’s agile basslines to bring their own mood.

For the most part, the band is cautious about how quickly they let their songs build: Hoff often carries the melody while weaving around Jorge Balbi’s drums and Van Etten’s rhythm guitar. As a vocalist, Van Etten is prone to making large leaps up the musical scale, but she also employs her voice, excitingly and surprisingly, to add an ethereal texture to her songs.

There has always been something wonderfully smeared about her melodic voice, but the icy shadow in which everything here is cast often distracts from her searching songcraft, so replete with queries and ruminations.