British singer
Rumer
offers a fresh take on some of her favorite songs off her past albums on 2025's
In Session
. A collaboration with London-based Australian guitarist
Stefan Redtenbacher
and his
Funkestra
, the album features a handful of both cover tunes and some of
's most recognized originals. Beloved for her crystal-clear vocals, a style often compared to her main influence
Karen Carpenter
,
has carved out a discreet niche on the contemporary pop landscape, crafting throwback AM and orchestral pop albums that manage to evoke the sound of the 1960s and '70s but also sound distinctly her own. Similarly,
Redtenbacher
is known for his technicolor funk and large-ensemble instrumental rock albums that wouldn't sound out of place in a classic anime or spy movie. All of these qualities make their collaboration a perfect marriage of influences and style. One of the most surprising aspects of
is just how affecting a singer
has become since her 2010 debut,
Seasons of My Soul
. She was always an impeccable stylist, but both the quality of her voice and her sense of phrasing have only deepened in the intervening years. Consequently, her opening cover of
Richie Havens
' "It Could Be the First Day," and her originals "Slow," "Aretha," and "Am I Forgiven" almost transcend the original LP versions. Similarly, cuts like "Dangerous" off 2014's
Into Colour
and her rendition of
Hugh Prestwood
's "The Fate of Fireflies" off 2020's
Nashville Tears
offer up ever more dusky and nuanced emotions. Of course, it doesn't hurt that
never gets in her way, crafting earthy and sophisticated arrangements that further illuminate the live-in-studio vibe he and
are going for. ~ Matt Collar