Like a Ribbon is the debut studio album by British rapper John Glacier.[1] It was released through Young on 14 February 2025, and was met with positive critical reception.
Background and release
John Glacier released the song "Ocean Steppin'" as a single on 15 January 2025.[2] She released Like a Ribbon through Young on 14 February 2025.[3]
Composition
Like a Ribbon was executive produced by Kwes Darko. The album contains two guest appearances: musician Eartheater on the track "Money Shows", and singer Sampha on the track "Ocean Steppin'".[3] The album's structure has been described as split into three parts, representing the different ways a ribbon moves as it unfurls.[4][5]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 88/100[6] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Clash | 9/10[4] |
| DIY |   [3] |
| The Guardian | [1] |
| MusicOMH |  [7] |
| Pitchfork | 8.2/10[8] |
| PopMatters | 7/10[9] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Like a Ribbon received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 88 out of 100 from 7 critic scores.[6] The album's content was described by reviewers as personal and reflective;[4][5] in particular, critics described her lyrics as discussing topics related to her personal and professional growth.[4][8] Nature, and its contrasts with urban life or the digital world, was also identified by some critics as a recurring theme.[5][8] The album's lyrics were described as presented in a fragmentary style, which critics compared to "scattered voice memos"[1] or "faintly sketched daydreams".[5] Glacier's vocal style on Like a Ribbon was widely noted for its muted character, with several critics describing her delivery as "diaristic",[5][9] "deadpan",[5][8] and "stream-of-consciousness".[1][9] Cameron Lipp of PopMatters also remarked on the recording of Glacier's vocals, describing them as having a "DIY homemade sound".[9]
Critics identified diverse influences on the instrumentation of Like a Ribbon. Hip-hop, and related genres like grime and UK drill, were described as major genres present on the album; electronic genres, including garage and drum 'n' bass, were also highlighted.[1][5][9] Shaad D'Souza of Pitchfork characterised Like a Ribbon as incorporating post-punk as well.[8] The diversity in sounds on the album divided some critics: Alexis Petridis of The Guardian felt that the album being "so packed with ideas" made it rewarding to listen repeatedly and explore thoroughly,[1] whereas Lipp commented that it led some of Glacier's ideas to be "half-baked".[9]
The sound of Like a Ribbon was compared by some reviewers to artists such as Dean Blunt[5][8][9] and King Krule.[5][8] The guest appearances were praised for being distinctive without "steal[ing] the spotlight".[3]
Track listing
All lyrics are written by John Glacier; "Ocean Steppin'" lyrics written with Sampha Sisay.
| No. | Title | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Satellites" | Kwes Darko | Darko | 1:58 |
| 2. | "Don't Cover Me" |
|
| 3:00 |
| 3. | "Money Shows" (featuring Eartheater) |
| Darko | 2:11 |
| 4. | "Emotions" |
| Darko | 3:24 |
| 5. | "Nevasure" | Harley Streten | Flume | 3:16 |
| 6. | "Steady as I Am" | Darko | Darko | 2:14 |
| 7. | "Found" |
| Darko | 2:43 |
| 8. | "Home" |
|
| 3:22 |
| 9. | "Ocean Steppin'" (with Sampha) | Darko | Darko | 2:50 |
| 10. | "Dancing in the Rain" | 2:11 | ||
| 11. | "Heavens Sent" |
|
| 3:00 |
| Total length: | 30:13 | |||
Personnel
- John Glacier – vocals
- Kwes Darko – mixing, engineering (tracks 1–4, 6–11); programming (1, 4, 6–9), drums (1, 4, 6), sampler (7), bass guitar (8), piano (9)
- Flume – mixing (track 5)
- Katie Tavini – mastering
- Andrew Aged – programming (track 2), guitar (8)
- Zack Sekoff – programming (track 2)
- Rada McNally-Marchenkov – vocals (tracks 3, 4)
- Alexandra Drewchin – vocals (track 3)
- Sampha – piano, programming, vocals (track 9)
- Harrison – programming (track 10)
- Evilgiane – programming (track 10)
Charts
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Album Downloads (OCC)[10] | 65 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[11] | 43 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC)[12] | 24 |
References
- ^ a b c d e f Petridis, Alexis (13 February 2025). "John Glacier: Like a Ribbon album review – this otherworldly British voice is in a class of her own". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
- ^ "John Glacier and Sampha join forces on new single, "Ocean Steppin'". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d "John Glacier - Like A Ribbon". DIY. 12 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d Harris, Cameron Sinclair (13 February 2025). "John Glacier - Like A Ribbon". Clash. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Scott, Hayley (24 February 2025). "John Glacier – Like A Ribbon". The Quietus. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Like A Ribbon by John Glacier". Metacritic. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
- ^ Devlin, Ben (19 February 2025). "John Glacier - Like A Ribbon | Album Reviews". MusicOMH. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g D'Souza, Shaad. "John Glacier: Like a Ribbon". Pitchfork. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Lipp, Cameron (27 February 2025). "John Glacier's 'Like a Ribbon' is a Promising Debut". PopMatters. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
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