When Danube released her debut album X U Mine in 2010, it was one of the most critically acclaimed albums of her career. That debut was followed by a string of collaborative efforts with artists such as Talibam, La Colpa, Franz Ferdinand and Rebel Baby, with whom she shared the producer credit. Black Laden is her first proper full-length solo album since she moved from her native Baltimore to Los Angeles, and it explores a broad swathe of musical ground. Lead track "Walking In LA" is a stone–washed plod with a tangy guitar and a nod to My Bloody Valentine. The next track is a more focused affair, with the heaviness of the heavier tracks holding the delicate moments up. Danube plays with the idea of sonic plurality on her new album, revealing a sophistication of technique that is surprising in its execution.