Annie Clark has become an indie-rock mainstay since the release of the first St. Vincent record in 2007, but her appeal has always bled beyond genre boundaries. In the years since then, her work has straddled arthouse pop, psychedelia and glam-rock, with each of her albums subsequently feeling like an event in their own right.
As is suggested by its title her latest, 'All Born Screaming', has a darkness to it. Described as post-plague pop, it is another ambitious achievement with a list of major guest artists including Dave Grohl and Cate Le Bon.
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Hell Is Near, a swirling epic full of angst that highlights Clark's vocals, is a haunting way to start the record.
And while Reckless has a slow, moody piano-based intro indicating something more subtle, it slowly incorporates other elements, exploding into life at its climax into something monstrous. It is sure to be a huge live track.
The lead single, Broken Man, is full of infectious electro-rock energy. It's closer to the sound of 2014's self-titled album and showcases St. Vincent at her very best - swaggering and full of intent. Driven by loud riffs, this song and the grunge-esque Flea also show her prowess as a guitarist.
Big Time Nothing doubles down on the electronic influences with more of a background dancefloor feel to it that gradually injects some searing riffs. While this marriage might not work on paper, it is impressive how effortlessly Clark pulls it off. Violent Times is more jazz-tinged and cinematic, keeping listeners on their toes while also at home among the sprawling expanse of the record.
'All Born Screaming' is a triumphant return for St. Vincent. It's a hypnotising listen that fans will devour and while it's often bleak it is full of searing ambition and a sense of scale that never fails to impress. It's another curveball that retains her core artistry and musical depth, resulting in some of her best work to date.
