Laws of Illusion
2/5
There’s nothing unexpected about Canadian singer-songwriter McLachlan’s latest venture, which is probably why it will work. Like every album before it, Laws of Illusion comfortably fills the awkward gap between dinner party music and the kind of music that ought to be saved for romantic weekends involving log fires. And that’s part of the problem; it’s comfortable, it’s just… ‘nice’.

While she doesn’t experiment in a way that would really make us sit up and listen (think less piano, more percussion), the fact she doesn’t break away from the easy-listening, wounded crooning that has served her well for 20 years shouldn’t lose her any admirers. ‘Awakenings’ works well as the album intro and the overlaying in the melancholic ‘Out of Tune’ adds a welcome depth, but to those who aren’t familiar, it’s hard to tell the tracks apart.

While Laws of Illusion is unlikely to win McLachlan many more fans, or coax those who remain undecided off the fence, there’s no real reason why it won’t appeal to anyone who already possesses an appreciative ear for her mournful love songs.