Rianne Downey The Consequence Of Love
Rianne Downey's The Consequence Of Love announces a confident solo debut that marries timeless country songwriting with a distinct Scottish flavour. Critics agree the record's emotional centre rests on songs that pair vocal intimacy with stripped-back arrangements, and the consensus suggests the collection is worthy of attention rather than mere curiosity.
Across five professional reviews the album earned an 80.6/100 consensus score, with reviewers consistently pointing to the title track “The Consequence Of Love” as a standout and recommending other highlights such as “Angel”, “Heart of Mine” and “The Song Of Old Glencoe”. Reviews note Downey's soaring, sometimes raw vocals and heartfelt lyrics, often framed by spare fingerpicked guitars and subtle strings. Critics praised the mastering and soundstage for letting instruments breathe, while several pieces flagged the record's folk-country crossover and a sense of Caledoniana that gives the songs a cinematic, melancholic sweep.
While most reviews are approving, they balance admiration for Downey's songwriting with observations about arrangement choices - some tracks lean toward polished production, others toward intimate vulnerability - creating a pleasing tension across the record. The critical consensus positions The Consequence Of Love as a debut that showcases pride in songwriting, vocal depth, and a handful of genuinely essential tracks. For readers searching for an honest answer to "is The Consequence Of Love good?" the reviews suggest yes, particularly for those hunting for the best songs on the album and for fans of folk-tinged country with a Scottish inflection.
For a deeper look at individual reviews, production notes and full track-by-track reactions, read on to see what critics say about each moment on the record.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Angel
2 mentions
"“Angel.” The album is set to arrive"— Indie Is Not A Genre
Nothing Better
1 mention
""Nothing Better" feels like the record's perfect summary - romantic, wistful, and full of quiet hope, a summer sunday distilled."— Maximum Volume Music
Heart of Mine
2 mentions
"'They say God loves a trier', sings Downey on album closer Heart of Mine, 'Lord knows I’m trying hard'."— The Skinny
“Angel.” The album is set to arrive
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
The Consequence Of Love
The Song Of Old Glencoe
Lost In Blue
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 5 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
In his measured, conversational way Gareth James flags Rianne Downey’s debut The Consequence Of Love as quietly compelling, with the title track singled out as reason enough to give the record a spin. He notes Downey’s voice as distinctive and compelling, sometimes vulnerable, sometimes in full flight, which makes the best tracks - notably “The Consequence Of Love” and “Lost In Blue” - linger. The review privileges sonic detail too, crediting Jamie Fratta Peters’ mastering for clear instrumental separation, underscoring why listeners hunting for the best songs on The Consequence Of Love should start with the title track.
Key Points
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The title track is the album’s standout because it encapsulates Downey’s distinctive, compelling vocal delivery.
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The record’s core strengths are intimate vocals and clear mastering that provide tangible instrumental separation and presence.
Themes
Critic's Take
Rianne Downey's debut The Consequence Of Love feels bright and breezy, the best songs leaning into folk-country textures and cinematic arrangement. The review circles around “The Song Of Old Glencoe” as touching the folk end and praises “Lost In Blue” for its gentle swing and air of sadness, which together answer the question of best tracks on The Consequence Of Love. The reviewer singles out the lovely fingered guitar on songs like “Because” and the grander production on "Blue Eyes Burning" as evidence of the album's peak moments. Overall the tone is approving and celebratory, recommending the album for its simply seductive songwriting.
Key Points
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The best song moments pair mournful folk arrangements with gentle country swing, especially on "The Song Of Old Glencoe" and "Lost In Blue".
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The album's core strengths are its sunny, seductive songwriting and tasteful arrangements that blend folk, country and subtle production peaks.
Themes
Critic's Take
On Rianne Downey's debut The Consequence Of Love, the best songs are the ones that feel timeless and quietly gorgeous, especially “Angel” and “Lost in Blue”. Andy Thorley writes with warm, conversational assurance, calling “Angel” "simply gorgeous" and praising the "utterly beautiful" harmonies of “Lost in Blue”. He highlights the title and folk-tinged tracks for their heartfelt depth, making this record an intimate, necessary diversion from 2025's chaos. The review steers readers looking for the best tracks on The Consequence Of Love toward those songs that capture tranquillity and nostalgia most fully.
Key Points
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The best song, "Angel", is singled out as "simply gorgeous" and sets the record's calming, timeless tone.
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The album's core strengths are its tranquillity, beautiful harmonies, and a blend of folk tradition with pop warmth.
Critic's Take
Rianne Downey's debut The Consequence of Love is effortlessly assured, the kind of record where the voice carries the room and the strings never overwhelm. The review points readers toward the best songs on The Consequence of Love - “Heart of Mine”, “The Song of Old Glencoe” and title track “The Consequence of Love” - as the emotional and melodic centres. Andrew Williams writes in a warm, conversational tone, noting how the title track handles difficult subject matter without lapsing into self-pity and how the closer's line 'Lord knows I’m trying hard' lingers. The piece frames Downey as a new Scottish superstar, rooted in a thing he dubs 'Caledoniana', which explains why listeners searching for the best tracks on this album will find these three songs most essential.
Key Points
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The title track is best for its handling of difficult subject matter without self-pity and memorable, Shins-like melody.
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The album’s core strengths are Downey's soaring vocals, polished production, and a distinct Scottish-inflected Americana ('Caledoniana').
Themes
In
Critic's Take
Rianne Downey's debut The Consequence Of Love arrives framed by the single “Angel”, which the reviewer presents as the record's emotional apex. The piece praises “Angel” as a soaring country anthem that foregrounds Downey's powerful, raw vocals and a stripped-back, beautiful arrangement, making it one of the best songs on The Consequence Of Love. That emphasis - on timeless fingerpicked songwriting and a track the artist herself calls the one she is proudest of - positions “Angel” and similarly spare numbers as the standout tracks. The review signals that the album's strengths lie in songcraft and vocal centrality rather than studio gloss.
Key Points
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The single “Angel” is the best song because it is called a soaring country anthem that showcases Downey's powerful, raw vocals and timeless songwriting.
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The album’s core strengths are Downey’s songcraft and stripped-back arrangements that foreground vocal performance.