Inspired but a little light

In recent years, Grimes has become famous for who she’s in a relationship with (Elon Musk), her yet-to-be-born baby, and what gender it may be. But she’s also a musician. The fifth album of the Canadian whose real name is Claire Boucher, continues Grimes’ expedition into spaced-out electro pop, something she’s been perfecting since 2007. When she started releasing her hand-carved harmonies over bedroom-made beats, it was on her MySpace page.

Known for her experimental production, Grimes’ Miss Anthropocene flicks between ethereal, whispered, thin vocal soundscapes and dancefloor bangers that taste best with a pinch of salt.

It’s a high-concept record (she has stated in interviews she wanted to make the climate crisis fun), which works best when she steps away from her ambitions and lets it all hang out.

If you don’t overthink it (the climate crisis isn’t fun, doesn’t need to be made accessible, and your partner is a billionaire who could have more impact on the crisis than the rest of us combined), this is a great album by an inspired artist who isn’t afraid to go to unexpected places.

Making music for the better part of a decade, King Krule (Archy Ivan Marshall) has made a niche for himself as an offbeat poet and juxtaposing composer.

Benefiting from a ragged, unkempt voice that belies his 25 years, Man Alive is his most cheerful collection of songs, although that isn’t saying much.

In the vein of Sleaford Mods or Kate Tempest, he melds spoken-word portraits on bleak English backdrops, often consisting of wonkily strummed guitars and reverberating feedback.

It sounds discordant, messy and, depending on your ear, possibly quite jarring, but that’s the point. It makes moments of connection and harmony (like when he sings that we are never alone, not even for a second on Alone, Omen 3) truly soar.

Krule’s music sounds like it came from a dream, sketches of a world only glimpsed then ensconced in a jazz freestyle. He’s an unlikely combination of artist as he seems too shy to be in the spotlight, which makes his a voice worth hearing.

Finally, you don’t have to understand the words to enjoy what’s going on, as K-pop’s BTS prove on the epic (long) new release Map Of The World: 7. Clocking in at well over an hour, and spanning the globe, this well-finessed K-pop band is worthy of its world domination.

It’s formulaic, predictable, and plays to the crowd, and is at least as good as anything you hear coming from Western pop.