NEW YORK (AP) — Fans of the New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde have long praised her visceral pop craft, finding a sense of freedom in her music. Her latest album, "Virgin," marks a significant return for the artist, showcasing a rawness and artistry that resonate deeply with her audience.
"Virgin," Lorde's fourth studio album and her first in four years, strips away the anxious filters that often accompany pop music today. With this release, she embodies a sense of liberation and authenticity. Lorde first captured the public's attention in 2013 with her breakout hit "Royals," which sharply critiqued celebrity culture and consumerism. Her debut album, "Pure Heroine," revealed a unique talent that set her apart from contemporaries, and her 2017 sophomore effort, "Melodrama," cemented her status as a relevant and groundbreaking artist.
After stepping back to reflect on her career, Lorde embraced a different sonic landscape in her 2021 album "Solar Power." During this period, she also faced personal challenges, including the end of a long-term romantic relationship and health struggles, as mentioned in a revealing cover story in "Rolling Stone." It was during this introspective time that "Virgin" began to take shape, infused with emotion and personal growth.
Musically, "Virgin" bridges the sound of "Melodrama" with the present moment. The lead single, "What Was That," presents a restrained yet infectious energy, while tracks like "Hammer" show her evolution as a pop artist. The album reveals a newfound malleability, highlighted by lines such as, "Some days I’m a woman / Some days I’m a man," reflecting her fluidity in gender identity.
A standout track, "Shapeshifter," exemplifies the interplay between organic instrumentation and electronic elements. This theme continues in "Man of the Year," which features contributions from Lorde’s frequent collaborator, Dev Hynes, adding further depth to the album's soundscape. Her collaboration with production partners Jim-E Stack and Daniel Nigro has brought a fresh perspective, drawing on their extensive backgrounds in diverse music genres.
Thematically, "Virgin" showcases Lorde's exploration of gender identity and sexual autonomy. Tracks like "Favourite Daughter" and "Current Affairs" delve into these subjects, with the latter featuring provocative lyrics that may surprise some listeners. One of the most striking elements is the candidness with which she addresses sexuality, encapsulated by a lyric that includes, "You tasted my underwear," alongside a sample from Dexta Daps’ "Morning Love."
The intimacy of "Virgin" extends beyond its lyrical content; the album is heavily rooted in physicality. For instance, "Clearblue," the shortest track, is a vocoder-affected a cappella that nods to the popular pregnancy test brand. Themes of motherhood and fertility are woven throughout the album, exemplified by the cover image that features an X-ray of her pelvis revealing an intrauterine device.
This latest work represents a new chapter for Lorde. She emerges as a more self-assured artist, embracing her imperfections while evolving her signature sound. Once again, she balances avant-garde sensibilities with accessibility for pop radio, culminating in an album that celebrates her unshackled creativity and artistic expression.
