Solar Power:5/10

To hear solar power for the first time is equivalent to trying to stare at an eclipse without glasses:it will make you look away at the risk of going blind. That seems to have been the general consensus. Lorde's return came with a bright warning as SP bright lead single invited us to join her in her idyllic commune. It channeled George Micheals classic "freedom '90" along with primal screams "loaded",to no complaint (except from the public) the record sent a collective dread throughout the music sphere. With fans either hating it passionately or others claiming "its not THAT bad " . And from that moment things would stay but still no glowing reviews ,the same:the noted similarities, the divisiveness then dejected appreciation.

The record begins with a magnificent start luring you in with flutes and hyper specific lyrics in the vein of Lorde before exploding into a gratifying chorus in which she dispels celeb worship culture.

An opener worthy of "greenlight" or being a cathartic closer. "California " blows in with a psychedelic warmth and one of the best opening lyrics of 2021. Seemingly sparse emphasizing her raspy voice Lorde remunerates on the day that brought her to the "camera flash " with self awareness beyond her years descending into the blissful hopeful outro. Jumping years future "SATNS" begins vying for the best lyric of this decade in its opening line. In it like most of the album she reflects on her life post fame:the implications and consequences. Switching between memories of anonymity/privacy to the grace of domesticity she builds a content image . One which negates her touring life with her horded normalcy.

One of my highlights about SP is the narrative coherence. The production so far has been swarmed with acoustic guitars, deceptive drums and airy production flourishes that aim to accentuate and not take center stage. Admittedly, Antanoff commercial demand has made the album less effective due to derivative moment's but he can forgiven in helping Lorde execute her vision.

Album fan favourite "FF" comes with the closets to electronic production in SP will ever be. Addressing the climate change with adept imagery. From the failed previous generations wasted efforts to theirs. The songs second half is fu.kin brilliant! The 2k pop of Robyn assisted SFAG(WSIA) is catchy and breathtaking. Using the reversed cords of 'ribs' she addesses "PH" Ella before the experimental calm of the Robyn outro. The sonic sister "MR" goes full circle with a bubble gum pop sound narrated by satirical wellness celeb culture critiques.

The emotional high points "MWAA"&"BS" channel liability&WITD as they address love and grief with the confessional dexterity attributed to Lorde.

What I learned midway is this isn't a Lorde record it's an Ella record. She's flexing her lyrical prowess through 3rd person narritives(Dominoes&H.O.T) along with her family, bliss and state of mind in the blockbuster bjorkian "Oceanic Feeling ",a career best. In summary SP is a stellar somewhat quite record that despite succumbing to surface level monotony manages to hold it's place in the year bests.