FKA twigs - MAGDALENE: A nucleus of both vulnerability and strength

Hindered by neither emotional pain or physical limitation, FKA Twigs returns with inexorable impact in MAGDALENE. Penned during the aftermath of laparoscopy surgery and a split with ex-fiancé, Robert Pattinson, this album is a nucleus of both vulnerability and strength. Her stunning artistic vision unfolds in brilliantly agile vocals, sentimental story-telling and indulgent orchestral elaborations with futuristic, mechanical sounds. MAGDALENE is far from a mainstream electronic R&B album. It is a Gesamtkunstwerk.

Delving immediately into the religious theme suggested by the album’s title, MAGDALENE opens with the hauntingly beautiful ‘Thousand Eyes,’ an atmospheric acapella piece that repeats in swirling echoes. Twigs’ voice is heard as a chanting choir, mimicking the ‘thousand eyes’ of the public whom she shares her relationship with – a factor that eventually leads to the destruction of their love.

‘Home with You’ is a highlight of the album where Twigs seems to play God and force the opposing elements of good and evil, light and dark, to coexist. The song oscillates between distorted, mechanical sounds and ethereal, operatic vocals which complement complex and lavish orchestral flourishes. Rigid, syllabic lyrics like ‘I’ve never seen a hero like me in a sci-fi’ are bold statements that stand in angry contrast to the delicate, melisma of ‘I’d be running down the hills to you.’

Opting for a much more mainstream sound, ‘Sad Day’ and ‘Holy Terrain’ lace hip-hop influences and catchy hooks with lyrics that describe a search for love. However, the intriguing complexity of both music and lyric return within the album’s centrepiece ‘Mary Magdalene’. Twigs takes a notably feminist stance as she explores various portrayals of the biblical figure, identifying herself as both Mary the sinful woman, and Mary the good woman who finds a best friend in Jesus. Fittingly, the music also sways seamlessly between choral vocals of a heavenly atmosphere and a darker, more seductive tone.

‘Fallen Alien’ is screeching, high-registered and angry. Different vocals and lyrics battle over each other for dominance as she furiously dictates her feelings of being an outsider and an ‘alien.’ This could be a written response to the outrageous levels of racism Twigs faced from online trolls during her relationship with Robert Pattinson.

Slowing the album’s momentum is ‘Mirrored Heart’ which stands in contrast to the other songs due to its lack of new musical content. Its repetitive nature sounds much like what has already been heard, making it stand out as a rather boring addition to what has been, so far, an exciting album. Nevertheless, the disjunct, poetic ‘Daybed’ redeems this minor flaw with lyrics like ‘Empty is my sweet thing/Aching is my laugher’ bringing to life both the physical and emotional pain Twigs felt whilst writing the album.

‘Cellophane' closes the album and takes the listener full circle to the same thematic material that opened the album in ‘Thousand Eyes’. Twigs sings a heart-wrenching piano ballad that discusses the prying and pressuring eyes of the public as she ends the album with the whispered line, ‘They’re watching us/They’re hating/They’re waiting/And hoping/I’m not enough.’

MAGDALENE exhibits limitless creativity and boundless musical innovation. Through it, FKA Twigs continues to impress and establishes herself as a magnetic force, a goddess of music. She effortlessly absorbs the listener into her vast, experimental, electronic soundscape and pens intelligent, thought-provoking lyrics, each syllable demanding to be heard. Going above and beyond her peers, she allows herself to be vulnerable in the baring of her emotions, and ensures that her music is nothing short of pure art.

Watch Home with You below: