(Young/Atlantic)
Darkness turns to light in Tahliah Barnett’s follow-up to 2019 LP Magdalene but, even so, it’s an adventurous but undercharged effort missing hooks and cohesion
FKA twigs recently took to Instagram to depict her mixtape Caprisongs as a soundtrack for preparing to go out: “It’s bronzer in the sink, alcopop on the side … a club pre-game … your bestie who is always late but brings the most to a party.”
This is not a description that would fit most of Tahliah Barnett’s oeuvre – to date she has dealt largely in darkness and heartache. But where 2019’s Magdalene came with a sleeve featuring twigs looking troubled, her face disturbingly distorted, on the cover of Caprisongs – the first thing she’s released since she accused her ex-boyfriend Shia LaBeouf of abuse (allegations he denies) – she’s clad in glittering jewellery, pulling down her bottom lip to reveal the acronym GOAT (greatest of all time) written on her teeth. Its contents follow suit.