Arlo Parks made her full-length debut with 2021's Collapsed in Sunbeams, a remarkable set of highly accessible songs filled with vivid, sometimes heartbreaking lyrics that expressed feelings like depression, anxiety, and envy in a comforting and relatable way. The album was a well-deserved success, earning widespread acclaim as well as several major awards and nominations, including the Mercury Prize, while Parks won a Brit Award for Best New Artist. She spent much of 2021 and 2022 on the road, including a tour with Clairo and dates as the support act for Harry Styles and Billie Eilish, and she relocated from London to Los Angeles along the way. Her nonstop work schedule took its toll on her mental health, and she was forced to cancel several concerts in September of 2022 in order to slow down and recuperate. On her second album, My Soft Machine, she cuts straight to the whirlwind of emotions she's dealing with as she navigates through the drastic changes of her life. Her lyrics feel far more urgent than they did before, with fewer poetic details and pop culture references, and a much stronger desire for happiness and affection. Though she rarely makes direct references to specific names and places, the songs are inspired by people close to her, particularly her partner, pop star Ashnikko, as well as friends who have been battling substance abuse and other issues. While Collapsed in Sunbeams blended indie soul with trip-hop, coming close to a mixture of Lianne La Havas, Martina Topley-Bird, and In Rainbows-era Radiohead, My Soft Machine embraces more sophisticated, contemporary pop production and a wider variety of sounds. "Impurities" sports a faded, atmospheric hip-hop beat, backing Parks' low-key but empowering "I radiate like a star, like a star, star, star" refrain. Though she doesn't make aggressive music (yet), Parks seems delighted to let off some steam with the wailing alt-rock guitars and vocal distortion of "Devotion." On the neon-tinged disco bop "Blades," she yearns for the sound of her partner's voice, presumably while she's on tour somewhere far away. On "Weightless," easily her most ambitious song to date, she sounds on the verge of tears as she begs for validation from someone who barely acknowledges her. At least as dramatic is the breakup lament "Room (Red Wings)," which lives up to its chorus ("without you, I'm devastated"). Though the feelings of longing, heartache, and hopelessness seem inescapable, there are still moments of joy and satisfaction, such as the Phoebe Bridgers-featuring "Pegasus," which feels like a relaxed hang-out between two close friends, and the sunny, shoegaze-inspired "Dog Rose." My Soft Machine hits differently than Collapsed in Sunbeams, but it's still a powerful effort that packs more emotional weight while expanding the singer/songwriter's stylistic range. ~ Paul Simpson