Pompeii (Cate Le Bon album)
Pompeii is the sixth studio album by the Welsh singer and producer Cate Le Bon, released on 4 February 2022 by Mexican Summer.
Background and recording
Le Bon began working on the album during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales, in a Cardiff Victorian terrace owned by fellow Welsh musician Gruff Rhys.Composition
Musically, Pompeii takes on "penetrating" art pop. It is also influenced by Japanese city pop, with the style reflected in Le Bon's synth work.Critical reception
| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
| BrooklynVegan | Indie Basement: Top 40 Albums of 2022 | 32 | |
| Exclaim! | Exclaim!'s 50 Best Albums of 2022 | 30 | |
| The Forty-Five | Albums of the year 2022 | 30 | |
| Mojo | The 50 Best Albums of 2022 | 21 | |
| New Commute | New Commute's Albums of the Year | N/A | |
| Northern Transmission | Top 50 Albums of 2022 | 47 | |
| ourculture | The 50 Best Albums of 2022 | 21 | |
| Paste | The 50 Best Albums of 2022 | 15 | |
| Pitchfork | The 50 Best Albums of 2022 | 20 | |
| Pitchfork | The 38 Best Rock Albums of 2022 | N/A | |
| Slant Magazine | The 50 Best Albums of 2022 | 48 | |
| Slate | The Best Albums of 2022 | Honorable Mention | |
| Treble | The 50 Best Albums of 2022 | 10 | |
| Uncut | Best New Albums of 2022 | 13 | |
| Under the Radar | The 100 Best Albums of 2022 | 36 |
Personnel
- Cate Le Bon – vocals, guitar, bass guitar, synthesizers, piano, percussion, production
- Samur Khouja – production, mixing, engineering
- H. Hawkline – co-production, design, photography
- Heba Kadry – mastering
- Simon Berckelman – engineering
- Euan Hinshelwood – saxophone, vocal engineering
- Stella Mozgawa – drums
- Stephen Black – saxophone, clarinet
- Chloe Dadd – engineering assistance
- Casey Raymond – photography