If there's one thing FKA twigs doesn't like, it's her music being put in a box, and while we'd probably say that artists who are this vocal about such things are probably a little too touchy about their work and those who listen to it, with her debut album, LP1, out for all to hear, the UK singer seems to be making a very strong case for not only the ambiguity of her sound, but its proud eclectic ancestry, too. Now, if you're already at least a little familiar with FKA, then the music won't come as any sort of shock, but if this is your first run in with the artist, then be prepared for all types of pleasurable sonic oddities. LP1 sounds like the work of somebody who has spent years of their life coloring inside the lines, learning to do things the "right" way, and just generally, following all of the rules before snapping and letting a whole flood of repressed creativity out into one artistic, anamorphic glob. The result of that is a veritable potluck of genres, replete with mind-bending transitions and unexpected twists and turns that don't typically come about. It's like Twigs got bored with regular regimes, and decided she was going to make music on her own terms, with her own rules, and, of course, with a unique vision in tow. For the average listener, this can be challenging at times, and surely, it's hard to keep up at first when you listen to songs like "Preface" and "Numbers", but upon closer inspection, you'll realize that these songs aren't just some haphazard attempt at avant-garde production work, but efforts to understand her undeniably creative methods. The tracks aren't the hook-laden, easy-listening bangers found on the radio, but if you have a little bit of faith in what she's doing, then you won't be disappointed. There's no doubting the fact that there will detractors, but her rising popularity is testament to the fact the people are "getting" the music, and LP1 is surely shaping up to be the kind of album that history looks kindly upon. "Lights On" is probably the first of many notables on the ten-piece tracklist, and the slow-burning intro is the perfect way to get your ears acclimated to the type of sounds that come later on in the project. It's relatively minimal at the beginning (in fact, that's how the bulk of her songs kick off), but the interesting part is that she manages to build tension and pace without adding additional layers. Rather, she just swaps certain stems for other, more aggressive notes, and all of a sudden, you're on the edge of whatever you happen to be sitting on, waiting for what comes next. "Two Weeks", the next track on the list, is a little more full-bodied than "Lights On", but it's just as efficient with it's individual pieces, and about midway through, FKA uses her crystal-clear voice to build the most epic of choruses—one that's got us listening to "Two Weeks" on repeat. Moving on down the line, you'll come across a rather unassuming track called "Video Girl", and this is where things take a turn for the darker. Yes, up till now, Twigs has done a great job keeping things edgy and unpredictable, but there's a brooding desperation in "Video Girl" that's quite infectious. The song stands out as one of the more memorable cuts on the album, and if you didn't think she knew what she was doing by now, then this one will change your mind. Bringing up the rear, we have "Give Up" and "Kicks". Both of these are amazing in their own right, but they're best enjoyed after you've already listened to the rest of the album, because there's something uncanny about how FKA was able to corral all of the sounds on the project and tie it all together in a neat little bow with these tracks. They're the perfect efforts to wind down to while ensuring that her sound will stay with you long after the music dies out, and they seal the fact that LP1 is one of the most uncompromisingly bold, excitingly label-less, and undeniably creative projects of the year. LP1 is available in the UK now, and the US and Canada will be able to purchase the album tomorrow.
FKA twigs