FKA TWIGS: MAGDALENE

SCORE: 96/100

Released in the early days of November in 2019, MAGDALENE is Barnett's second full-length LP that runs for a delightful 38 minutes, pushing every boundary in the process and progression of the steady & wholeheartedly enjoyable runtime of the album that keeps itself entertaining and genuinely wonderful to listen to at every unexpected flip and turn throughout.

MAGDALENE begins beautifully eerie - with a somber tone and layered vocals that form haunting melodies that cause tidal waves of sound to reverberate between the walls of the album. The sound progresses into a rough-edged electronic field of soundscapes that cut like a blunt knife, with each element coming into its own and blooming into one deeply emotional soundscape that really feels.

From electronically enhanced piano ballads to the harsh vocal-only tracks that boom into dark glitch-filled electronic soundscapes at the blink of an eye, MAGDALENE is a stunning album that showcases all sides of twigs - from her stunning producorial palate to her high-pitched and unique vocals that layer upon each other to create striking tracks all the way to her writing, twigs manages to put together another deeply emotional and stunning project that truly showcases her stunning artistry from all sides of the spectrum.

Barnett lets the runtime shimmer and glisten with each turn, with a five minute song melting into what feels like mere seconds while the tracks woo and hum every second and step of the way. There's a stunning sound to the album that keeps it wildly interesting and deeply worthwhile in every way; and it's an art pop project that defines what the more modern sound of the genre should sound like, with stunningly layered soundscapes and production you won't find anywhere else, twigs manages to outdo even herself at every new horizon in her career thus far.

The album experiments with eerie R&B that is jam-packed with emotions while delving into deconstructed club, electronic, and even hip-hop (on 'holy terrain', which has elements of trap within the production as well as a feature from Future; deeply unexpected and yet it worked better than you could ever expect). 

Each effect and desperate vocal croon builds up a tower of emotional vulnerability, with a stunning album blooming into something by the halfway mark, MAGDALENE is an art pop essential that you simply cannot miss out on. 

"I never thought heartbreak could be so all-encompassing. I never thought that my body could stop working to the point that I couldn't express myself physically in the ways that I have always loved and found so much solace. I have always practiced my way into being the best I could be, but I couldn't do that this time, I was left with no option but to tear every process down. But the process of making this album has allowed me for the first time, and in the most real way, to find compassion when I have been at my most ungraceful, confused and fractured. I stopped judging myself and at that moment found hope in Magdalene. To her I am forever grateful."

The project came amongst a huge wave of emotions for Barnett, with the songs reflecting on her personal life and feelings, the feelings and crushing thoughts that can consume one when heartbreak occurs. It's a stunningly raw and reflective portrait of a particular time in Barnett's life that came after a bit of a hiatus for her musically; a hiatus that was spent composing this album for years.