Beautiful Lies captures a Birdy who is growing older, wiser, and more haunted by life’s experiences. The youthful lilt found on earlier efforts has evolved into a rich, soulful croon; likewise, her shimmering piano ballads have grown deeper, thicker, and significantly more baroque. Featuring vocal acrobatics bobbing and weaving through ethereal strings and skittering beats, “Shadow” and “Silhouette” are emotionally complex confessionals from a singer/songwriter caught between hope and self-doubt. On “Wild Horses,” Birdy employs a similar construction, yet eschews intimacy for a boldly soaring sound.