FKA Twigs: Rising to the Occasion

FKA Twigs is an up and coming band headed by the angelic singer Tahliah Barnett or “Twigs,” who got her nickname due to being able to pop and crack her bones loudly, like twigs snapping. This unique band has recently risen in the music industry with the release of LP1, their second album. The album won Best Album of the Year on Pitchfork, one of the most influential music review websites on the Internet. All of the songs on LP1 have an eclectic and otherworldly mix of electronic rhythms — reminiscent of those used by the popular electronic band Massive Attack – accompanied by the brooding, dreamy and ethereal singing of Barnett. If you are a fan of Little Dragon or James Blake, this band will definitely cater to your divine tastes.

LP1 begins with a track called “Preface” that includes Barnett’s echoing, ghostly vocals accompanied by psychedelic, even trippy, electronic beats. “Preface” perfectly sums up all of the sounds that you will hear throughout this album, hence the name of the song.

Several songs on the album have a gloomy, almost depressing feel created by a slow, languid electronic beat and Barnett’s whispery vocals that sometimes seem to float through the songs as lightly as feathers. Songs like “Pendulum” and “Give Up” make you want to both sing along and cry at the same time, which is a rare and powerful effect.

In my opinion, the best song on the album is “Two Weeks.” This song contains all of the unique qualities of FKA Twigs with its surreal yet catchy vocals and hypnotic electronic rhythms. “Two Weeks” also beautifully showcases Barnett’s unusual voice that is so calming and disturbing at the same time.

I highly recommend that you listen carefully to this album and not only the  most popular or well-known songs. The best way to experience the album is through listening to every songf, from beginning to end in the proper sequence, because it makes you appreciate the work and also the artistry that is was put into this impeccably poetic album.