Grimes — Art Angels (Album Review)

From Rococo to Electronica, the Canadian queen of Art Pop creates a stunning mashup of old and future sounds on fourth studio release, Art Angels. The album is a treasure trove of millenial eclecticism. It’s hard, while not being afraid to be soft; ethereal and animated, yet forceful and unapologetic. An audiovisual cornicopia that spans arcade-style Aggrotech with a dancefloor vibe in tracks like “Kill V. Maim” (a song that marries the heavy-hitting industrial beats of Aural Vampire and Mindless Self Indulgence) and a faux soprano-style aria in “Laughing And Not Being Normal” (a neoclassical piece boasting a string section, piano, and Claire Boucher’s angelic, whispery vocals).

Other highlights include “Realiti” — with its melodic trance vibe (However, the demo version is still a favorite), “Scream (Feat. Taiwanese rapper Aristophanes”), “Venus Fly (Feat. Janelle Monae)”, and the sweet airy ballad “Flesh Without Blood”.

At times, Grimes’ voice is reminiscent of the siren call of Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser. While elsewhere, her screeching and otherworldly vocals are reminiscent of The Cranes’ Alison Shaw. As a whole, Art Angels masterfully curates a tug of war between light and heavy ballads; a fitting juxtaposition, as Grimes was searching for a harder sound to prove to naysayers she was capable of something less “cutesy”.

Suggested Track: “Kill V. Maim”