Album Review: Lucy Spraggan - 'Other Sides of the Moon'
With Other Sides of the Moon, Lucy Spraggan offers more than a reimagining of her past work - she delivers a poignant reflection on her personal and artistic evolution.
Since her breakthrough on The X Factor in 2012, Lucy Spraggan has carved out an impressive career - driven by sheer hard work and extraordinary talent. The acclaimed singer-songwriter has released seven albums, including two top-ten hits, authored a book, and toured alongside some of the biggest names in music. Just last week, she took the stage with Robbie Williams during his sold-out show at Manchester’s Co-op Live. Her latest project, Other Sides of the Moon, sees her return to the studio to reimagine some of her most cherished tracks - with spellbinding results.
The album opens with ‘Unsinkable’ - one of the most anthemic staples of Lucy’s live shows. Fans got their first taste of the reworked version when it aired on Britain’s Got Talent back in March. Enhanced by the addition of sweeping strings and driven by thunderous drums, the track radiates a unifying power, pulsing with warmth, energy, and emotional intensity. The sense of familiarity carries through with the title track, ‘Other Sides of the Moon’, which made its live debut and was released last year in celebration of Lucy’s marriage to her now wife, Emilia. A tender reflection on their journey from friendship to love, the track is delicately layered with soft piano and subtle strings. It highlights Lucy’s lyrical growth and perfectly sets the tone for an album that is both introspective and joyfully reflective.
One of the album’s two new songs, ‘Heaven’, has been kept tightly under wraps, with almost no details revealed ahead of release. What is known, however, is that Simon Cowell - who personally A&R’d the project and helped shape its creative direction, drawing on over 40 years of industry experience - believes it’s the best song Lucy has ever written. And he just might be right. Opening with a subtly distorted vocal loop of Lucy repeating the title, the track builds around a powerful piano foundation, culminating in soaring vocal moments that highlight the full strength and emotional range of her voice. Up next is ‘Fight For It’, a slow-burning fan favourite that rises steadily before exploding into a bold, triumphant anthem. In this new version, the piano feels brighter and more hopeful, mirroring the song’s message of resilience. Lucy’s vocals follow suit - more impassioned, more urgent - delivering every line with a renewed sense of purpose.
Lucy first released ‘Sober’ as a solo track, delivering a raw and deeply personal exploration of vulnerability and the journey to redefine one’s relationship with alcohol. The latest version, featuring Robbie Williams, brings a new layer of emotion - his distinctive voice adding a depth and richness that transforms the song into a powerful, textured duet that amplifies its heartfelt honesty. Written as a reflection on taking the time to understand what she truly wants from life - and, above all, discovering her own sense of balance - ‘Balance’ follows. One of Lucy’s most honest and compelling songs, the piano-led track holds a quiet power in live performances. On Other Sides of the Moon, that presence is elevated even further by the addition of a sweeping string section, which lifts the song to new emotional heights before gently fading away, leaving only Lucy’s voice to carry the final, intimate moments.
The album’s other new track, ‘The Lesson’, was part of the setlist during Lucy’s recent UK tour in April and was released as a single shortly afterward. Inspired by the profound experience of losing a parent, the song showcases Lucy’s enduring gift for storytelling through music. Her emotive vocals take centre stage, delicately interlaced with soulful piano melodies that enrich the track’s tender, sorrowful tone. ‘Bodies’ follows, opening with choral vocals - a rare and striking addition to Lucy’s sound. In live performances, the track is a moment of raw vulnerability, with Lucy’s voice accompanied solely by piano. While the instrumentation remains largely unchanged on Other Sides of the Moon, the introduction of a choir repeating the chorus adds a new layer of depth. It’s not just a beautiful addition; it brings a sense of solidarity and shared experience, reinforcing the idea that during life’s struggle, you are never truly alone.
For longtime fans, the inclusion of ‘If’ on the track list comes as a welcome surprise - it was never released as a single, nor did it make its way into live sets. Lucy has described it as an underrated gem that never quite got the recognition it deserved. On Other Sides of the Moon, the once-slow track gets a fresh lift with a steady groove and some funky guitar licks that bring a newfound energy, all without losing its emotional core. With this reimagined version, here’s hoping it finally earns a spot in future live shows. ‘Everything Changes’ is a particularly poignant addition to the album, reimagining Lucy’s breakout hit ‘Last Night (Beer Fear)’ through a more mature and reflective lens. It’s a clear marker of her artistic evolution, brought to life even more vividly in this version, which ends with a soaring arrangement of brass and strings - giving the sense that she’s joined by an entire orchestra. It’s a bold, beautiful touch. And really, wouldn’t that be incredible to witness live?
A fan favourite and one of Lucy’s biggest singles, ‘Lucky Stars’ already felt like a perfect song - so it was hard to imagine how she might rework it. But the direction she’s taken is both unexpected and inspired. Stripped-back and acoustic in the verses, it bursts into life on the chorus with the jubilant twang of a banjo and a driving, percussive beat. There’s a raw honesty in Lucy’s voice, filled with gratitude as she delivers the line, “I thank my lucky stars,” making the sentiment land even more powerfully than before. Reportedly her most requested song for the album, ‘Butterflies’ was another track that already felt perfect in its original form. Released over a decade ago, the rework showcases Lucy’s evolution, shifting the focus from guitar to a richer, more prominent piano arrangement - giving the song a fresh, mature feel while honouring its roots.
Inspired by her lockdown running, ‘Run’ quickly became a fan favourite with its infectious energy. The reworked version is an even bigger foot-stomper, packed with catchy hooks and memorable motifs. The highlight comes as the strings accelerate, building tension just before Lucy bursts into the chorus, unleashing a thrilling explosion of sound and instrumentation. Though not quite a foot-stomper, ‘Tea & Toast’ is always a standout moment in Lucy’s live sets, with audiences singing along in unison. It’s no surprise, then, that Lucy found it the toughest track to rework. Her efforts, however, truly paid off. Stripped of its original guitar-driven arrangement and reimagined around a delicate piano melody, the song’s story takes centre stage, its emotions shining through more vividly than ever. The guitar isn’t entirely absent, either - the occasional wailing riff adds depth and richness
The album closes poignantly with ‘Lightning’, a track that often brings Lucy’s live shows to a powerful finale. The rework embraces a genuine folk vibe, featuring a minimalist beat and jangly banjo that evoke the image of Lucy performing amidst a crowd - The Lumineers-style. As the pace quickens, layered backing vocals not only amplify the celebratory spirit Lucy always intended but also underscore the sense of community behind the album’s creation - reflecting her work with Simon and musicians she’s long trusted to help shape this truly special project.
With Other Sides of the Moon, Lucy offers far more than a simple reimagining of her past work - she delivers a poignant reflection on both her personal journey and artistic evolution. The album is a testament to her growth as a singer-songwriter, blending heartfelt storytelling with fresh, inventive arrangements that breathe new life into familiar favourites. It captures the resilience, gratitude, and emotional depth that have come to define her career, while opening a window into where she is now - confident, reflective, and boldly embracing all the many sides of her story.
Words by Laura Dean
