Life in a Beautiful Light

Released in 2012, Life in a Beautiful Light is Amy Macdonald's third studio album and represents a period of creative rejuvenation following a year-long hiatus from touring. Produced by long-time collaborator Pete Wilkinson, the record maintains the Scottish singer-songwriter's penchant for 'driving folk-rock' while expanding her lyrical scope. Unlike her second album, which was written under the pressure of constant touring, this collection benefited from a more natural, relaxed writing process. Thematically, the album is diverse: 'Human Spirit' was inspired by the Chilean miners' rescue, 'Across the Nile' addresses the Arab Spring, and 'Left That Body Long Ago' deals with her grandmother's Alzheimer's. Musically, it stays true to her roots with heavy emphasis on acoustic guitar rhythms and her distinct contralto range. While critics at the time gave it mixed reviews, citing a lack of radical sonic evolution, it was a major commercial success across Europe, topping charts in Austria and Germany and reaching number two in the UK.