My Light, My Destroyer

It all adds up to one of the best albums of the year so far and what feels like Jenkins’ true arrival.

She explores themes that have been relevant at least since the advent of the Cognitive Revolution 30,000-plus years ago – creation, destruction, ecstasy, transcendence – yet does so in her own contemporary, refreshing, and utterly commanding way.

Put together, the disparate elements that make up ‘My Light, My Destroyer’ may betray the occasional influence, but combine to produce a singular world – one that is, at points, both deadly serious and funny, but always habitable.

Music this textured is bound to take a few listens to get a hold of. Most impressive is how My Light, My Destroyer presents music that can be easily enjoyed – hooks and memorable lyrics abound – yet unravels deeper layers of meaning the more you dig in.

The album’s only other real fault is that an unnecessary number of interludes for such an economic LP (runtime: 36 minutes) creates a sense of disjointedness. However, My Light, My Destroyer remains an unmistakably gorgeous listen created by a musician attuned to perfecting lilting melodies like few others are.