Overview
“LP1” is the debut studio album by the English singer-songwriter FKA Twigs. It was released on 6 August 2014 by Young Turks. The album radically fragments and reconstitutes elements of R&B, trip hop, and electronica, setting sensual vocals within a minimal, chilly sonic space. It stands as one of the defining works of 2010s alternative R&B and avant-pop.
Background
FKA Twigs, born Tahliah Debrett Barnett, began her career as a singer-songwriter after working as a dancer. She self-released her first EP, “EP1,” on 4 December 2012, and followed it with “EP2” on 17 September 2013 through Young Turks.
On “EP2,” the producer Arca was deeply involved, and the record clearly showed a direction of abstracted, deconstructed R&B. “LP1” is her first full-length album and a continuation of that direction. It was recorded between 2013 and 2014.
Arca, Clams Casino, Dev Hynes (also known as Blood Orange), Sampha, Paul Epworth, and Emile Haynie took part in the production. Inc., Tic, and Cy An are also credited as producers. The artwork (Imagery) was created by Jesse Kanda, who is closely associated with Arca.
Commentary
The album’s sound is defined by a minimal, chilly atmosphere, finely chopped glitch beats, and sensual, delicate vocals. The rhythms favor fragmentation over continuity, and empty space and silence are built into the music as part of the sound. The vocals move between a high register and a whispering voice, and multilayered vocal arrangements are used extensively.
The album balances R&B vocal style against electronic sound design. The idioms of these genres are not quoted but dismantled and rearranged. Throughout the record run themes such as sexual desire, vulnerability, intimacy and distance, and an awareness of being exposed to the media and the gaze.
On release, the album received broad critical acclaim, including an average score of 86/100 on the review aggregator Metacritic, and it frequently appeared high on the year-end best-of lists of major publications. It was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize that year, and it also received a nomination at the 57th Grammy Awards for Best Recording Package, credited to Jesse Kanda.
Commercially, it peaked at number 16 on the UK Albums Chart and number 30 on the US Billboard 200. It reached number one on the UK Independent Albums Chart and on the US Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart.
FKA Twigs’s second studio album “Magdalene” (2019) is frequently cited as her greatest work in terms of overall completeness. “LP1,” by contrast, is especially prized as a debut for its experimentalism and innovation. “Magdalene” marks one point of arrival, reached through a broader sonic vocabulary and refined construction, and “LP1,” as its starting point, presents the tension between fragmented sound and vocals in an extreme form.
From a historical perspective, “LP1” joined the sonic concerns of Arca, Clams Casino, and others to the vocal tradition of R&B. In this respect it is regarded as one of the works that defined the direction of alternative R&B and indie electronica in the 2010s.
Track Notes
“Preface”: A short introductory piece composed of layers of distorted vocals and multilayered choruses, announcing the opening of the album. Lucki contributes as the “demon voice.”
“Lights On”: Grainy guitar and ambient textures intersect, and sensuality and a raw voice stand out. Produced by Arca.
“Two Weeks”: Released on 24 June 2014 as the album’s lead single. Emile Haynie co-produced it with FKA Twigs. Hard-edged beats and a sensual vocal fuse within a soundscape of majestic choral work and dreamlike, layered expanse, making it a signature track. In the music video, directed by Nabil Elderkin, FKA Twigs plays both a giant goddess and the tiny dancers who surround her.
“Hours”: Clams Casino, Dev Hynes, Arca, and Emile Haynie are among the contributors. Minute electronic sounds and dark spatial treatment create an introspective yet seductive mood.
“Pendulum”: The second single, released on 29 July 2014. Paul Epworth co-produced it with FKA Twigs. The production, in which the voice is finely chopped and stretched out, evokes unease and comfort at once.
“Video Girl”: The third single, released on 13 October 2014. Inspired by her experience as a dancer in music videos, it takes as its theme both the fear and the allure of being exposed to the media and to the gaze of others.
“Numbers”: Features Sampha. Minimal repetition of piano and synthesizer combines with tense beats.
“Closer”: A deep, experimental number incorporating distorted guitar tones and irregular rhythmic approaches. FKA Twigs led the production, with Cy An and Tic contributing additionally.
“Give Up”: Produced by Emile Haynie, with additional production by Arca. The contrast between a melancholic melody and fragmented beats is striking.
“Kicks”: A large-scale closing track of about five and a half minutes, co-written by FKA Twigs and Joel Compass. Ominous low frequencies and a sensual vocal unfold in undulating waves. Produced by FKA Twigs, with Cy An contributing additionally.
Track Listing
Total running time: 40:46.
- “Preface” – 1:46
- “Lights On” – 4:24
- “Two Weeks” – 4:07
- “Hours” – 4:35
- “Pendulum” – 4:58
- “Video Girl” – 3:47
- “Numbers” – 3:43
- “Closer” – 3:45
- “Give Up” – 4:17
- “Kicks” – 5:24
Personnel (Main Credits)
- FKA Twigs – vocals, songwriting, production (multiple tracks)
- Arca – production (“Lights On”); co-production and additional production (“Hours,” “Give Up,” and others)
- Emile Haynie – production (“Two Weeks,” “Hours,” “Video Girl,” “Give Up”)
- Clams Casino – production (“Hours”)
- Dev Hynes – production (“Hours”)
- Paul Epworth – production (“Pendulum”)
- Sampha – production (“Numbers”)
- Cy An, Tic, Inc., and others – additional production, among others
- Artwork (Imagery): Jesse Kanda
Streaming Services
Search Links
Search for “FKA Twigs LP1” on Amazon.com
Search for “FKA Twigs LP1” on Apple Music