M3LL 155X, FKA Twigs EP Review

FKA Twigs truly defines a generation of pop star that does not colour within the lines. Her debut album ‘LP1’ (2014) pushed her listeners to a world of dark futuristic pop doused in sexuality. After a lengthy tour, including the career-defining sell out show ‘Congregata’ at London’s Roundhouse, Twigs has a new EP.

Titled M3LL155X, the Gloucestershire singer has gone to the darkest recesses of her mind flaunting her style, self-directing four original music videos for the EP. It begins with Figure 8, an apocalyptic flurry of ear splitting feedback and Twigs’ now signature flying vocals. The song grips you within the first beat, provoking feelings of female empowerment and fearful ecstasy.

FKA Twigs’ strongest  song of her career is I’m Your Doll. The word provocative really doesn’t cut it. Twigs is singing about being a sex doll, relinquishing all her sexual power. The brutal desire of I’m Your Doll sees FKA Twigs at her best. A sexually empowered, creative and mature woman encouraging sexual empowerment, creativity and maturity.

M3LL155X is a fantastic body of work. In Time utilizes surreal vocal effects and breaks to create a fantastically obtuse dance track. Working in accordance with a purely fantastic video including pregnancy, dancing and a male lead straight out of MIB- it is clear that her creativity knows no bounds. The penultimate track, Glass & Patron, is a tour de force inspired by New York vogue culture. The song places FKA Twigs as one of the weirdest, and greatest, female pop stars of our time (oops Gaga).

The EP finishes with Mothercreep, a track similar to the Mercury nominated debut . Interestingly, Twigs manages to sample then chop and screw previous lyrics and moments from the EP, the pastiche effect further solidifies her creative statement, and confusing the hell out me.

My Love Is Cool, Wolf Alice Review

In amongst the hype that London band Wolf Alice have courted for well over a year, a few wary voices began to formulate. Despite riveting bodies of work such as Creature Songs EP and Blush EP, many began to doubt whether they could 1) put out a full album 2) stick to their roots. The latter would always proved difficult as Wolf Alice have struggled to define their sound

Wolf Alice had to live up to high expectations, with a few dodgy singles and re-recordings of fan favourites, things looked grim. But expectations are something that Wolf Alice like to fuck around with. The album opens with Turn To Dust, a folky and floaty ditty- not what most listeners would expect from the same line up that wrote Moaning Lisa Smile. Bros follows a similar track, a cleaned up and refined version of Roswell’s past lyrics. Bros is as silky as a fabric conditioner, complete with off the wall ethereal harmonies.

The rest of the album follows suit, you get comfortable with a relatively clean sound. Wolf Alice yet again lull you into a false sense of security. Then, like the final thirty seconds of Eastenders; You’re A Germ provides a plot twist like no other. Overtones of the Pixies begin and Your Love Is Cool begins to prove itself. A fun filled reminder of what indie rock can be. As you slip in some grandiose atmosphere in songs such as Silk and Giant Peach, Wolf Alice have you believing that they’ve written a cult classic.

The production on this album by Mike Crossey (The 1975) makes me feel a little bit numb. Overdosed echo and multiple vocals tracks on songs such as Freazy leave me with rolling eyes, like a GCSE art student trying to bullshit their way through the course. My opinion is that Wolf Alice do things best when butt naked, using little more than their raw talent. However, the commercial success of this LP has proved Wolf Alice has the teeth to win in this genre, expect something stadium sized next.