It’s been 35 years since German post-punk pioneers Xmal Deutschland’s last album, but Codes (Sacred Bones), the comeback of singer/frontwoman Anja Huwe, is fresh and thrilling. Proudly dramatic, and often using bilingual spoken-word techniques, it couples the cinematic electronica of collaborator Mona Mur (which sometimes echoes compatriots Propaganda) with propulsive rock which, with fellow Xmal graduate Manuela Rickers on guitar, will gratify fans of that band. Huwe has worked as a visual artist for some time, and Codes, which demands full attention from start to finish, is a big bold personal statement about survival, colouring its canvas with passion and class.
Michigan maverick John Grant’s solo albums, not to mention team-ups such as Creep Show, have been so consistently excellent that there’s a danger he might now be taken for granted. As his sixth, The Art Of The Lie (Bella Union), produced by Ivor Guest (Grace Jones) glides through its perfectly pitched balance of cheek and charisma, wry introspection and right-wing-riling observation, it becomes clear he hasn’t plateaued: he’s getting even better. Songs like All That School For Nothing match smarts and syncopation.
Equally acclaimed shapeshifter St Vincent returns with All Born Screaming (Virgin), but forsakes the soul of 2021’s Daddy Home to headbang singlemindedly with guests like Dave Grohl and Cate Le Bon. It’s direct and forceful, but hamstrings her versatility. Except for the final track, which, in a roundabout way, gets busy honouring 70s prog.
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