Back catalogue: All genres

Review: This French artist, who has captivated audiences with her collaborations alongside Mura Masa, Pomme and Flavien Berger, returns with a deeply personal album that explores the complexities of self-discovery and the search for meaning in a world obsessed with self-improvement. The album's title track, 'choke enough', is a poignant reflection on the need for connection and the pursuit of intense emotions. Oklou's warm, beautiful productions, a signature of her sound, conjure a liminal space where the boundaries between introspection and euphoria blur with delicate synthesiser arpeggios and found sound samples. 'family and friends', the album's first single, delves into the search for answers and the desire to escape from intangible memories. Oklou's lyrics, delivered with a vulnerable yet defiant honesty, capture the anxieties and uncertainties of a generation navigating a world where virtual and physical identities are inextricably intertwined. After gaining international acclaim with her collaborations and her critically acclaimed mixtape 'galore', Oklou's debut album marks a turning point in her artistic evolution, a bold yet introspective work that challenges listeners to confront their own anxieties and desires.

Review: Oklou is a French musician and is known to her parents as Marylou Mayniel. She dropped her debut album back in February and on it collaborates with artists such as Bladee and underscores, while some expert studio contributions from producers like the revered A.G. Cook, plus Danny L Harle and Casey MQ. Choke Enough blends Y2K influences with medieval melodies to reflect Oklou's evolution from her 2020 mixtape, Galore. This new long player offers up a deep dive into her meticulous approach to electronic, modern, 'hyper' pop while incorporating classical rigour. Standout tracks like the title track and 'Endless' are great reflections of her unique artistic vision while balancing formal complexity with subdued emotional impact.