FKA twigs’ “Magdalene” is full of weird beauty

The high priestess of bizarre cool attempts to conquer our humdrum world

Oh how blessed we felt when FKA twigs appeared out of nowhere seven years ago to blow away our unsuspecting minds. With her alien beauty, and otherworldly sounds she was like no other artist we knew. Accomplished dancer, amazing singer, songwriter, visual artist, daring musician and kung fu swordmaster, she was like a sorceress with unlimited power. She cast spells of sound and vision, with many songs perfectly complemented by a strange, beautiful video.

Fate conspired to deprive us of twigs for the past few years, however. A relationship with the world’s most famous vampire brought her out of her twilight world into the glaring lights of people-obsessed media; the uncomfortable ordeal ended in an emotionally draining breakup. Then she had to undergo life-threatening surgery to remove tumours from her uterus. It is these painful experiences that underpin and inform her long-awaited second album.

Twigs has stated that she wanted to make an accessible record with mainstream appeal. Her idea of what the general public wants is warped, to say the least, but it infuses her avant-garde pop with some potential doorways to her strange world. She is assisted by high profile artists including Skrillex, Jack Antonoff, Nicolas Jaar and Future, but they all bend to her style and add their touches without ever vying for visible space.

The record is like a mix between cyberpunk and heroic fantasy, set in a post-industrial landscape where curious creatures roam free. Twigs invokes the elfine magic of Kate Bush, frequently inspired by the artpop queen’s vocal style, with the occasional addition of high octave fireworks, or electronic distortion. The mostly ethereal music is underscored by fleeting futuristic beats and clanging noise. The deeply personal lyrics uneasily inhabit these tense surroundings.

She might not reach world domination, but with this album FKA twigs shows she will continue to leave her indelible mark on pop, bringing audacious change and showing paths to what lies beyond its boundaries.