Helen Mac Uncovers Phenomenal New Album Precipice

There are albums that feel like a snapshot, and then there are albums that feel like a culmination. Precipice, the new full-length from Manchester’s Helen Mac, is firmly the latter. Released through Now Listen, it draws together over a decade of writing into a project that sounds confident, cohesive, and unapologetically personal.

What stands out immediately is Mac’s control. Not just vocally, though her voice moves effortlessly between hushed reflection and full-bodied release, but structurally. These songs feel carefully shaped. You can sense their early life in bedroom sessions during lockdown, then hear them expand and breathe in the space of Oscillate Recordings. The blend of homegrown intimacy and studio depth gives the album a distinctive texture.

“Undergone” is a clear highlight, built on emotional clarity and moving forward. Rather than dwelling in heartbreak, it builds into a moment of rightfully earned confidence. The arrangement gradually opens up, mirroring a sense of reclaiming ground. It feels purposeful and empowering without losing its vulnerability.

The title track, “Precipice,” is equally compelling. Constructed around vocal elements created in Mac’s home studio, it pulses with urgency. The song explores pressure and responsibility with striking honesty, offering insight into the realities of living with bipolar while still sounding expansive and strong. It is thoughtful but never heavy.

Across its 11 tracks, Precipice feels like an artist stepping fully into her own space. There is maturity here but also spark. Helen Mac has taken years of experience, challenge, and growth, and shaped them into a record that feels assured and resonant. This is not just a collection of songs. It is a statement of arrival.