The Archandroid

Now on vinyl for Janelle Monae's 'The Archandroid' immediately dazzles you with its ambition. it's a 70-minute, 18-track epic comprising two suites, each beginning with an overture, telling a futuristic story starring a messianic android in a world where even surrealists such as lady gaga opt for lowest-common denominator beats, and where whole albums, even genres, are constructed around non-specific emotional heft, janelle monae's rich blend of historical reference points, uncompromising style and keenly felt pleasure is heady and refreshing.