Caprisongs, English singer-songwriter FKA twigs’ new mixtape, is a bit of an acquired taste. A little messy and very incohesive, the mixtape is certainly not for everyone; nevertheless, Caprisongs has some high points. 

The mixtape’s title is apparently a reference to FKA twigs’ zodiac sign, Capricorn. While the astrology reference somewhat sounds as though it would set up a spacey experimental project, Caprisongs is actually much more mainstream than FKA twigs’ usual work. Don’t get the wrong idea, though — the mixtape is still clearly the dreamy avant-pop the artist is known for, even if the songs are a bit more accessible than usual. 

One of the album’s strongest points is its instrumentals; the music feels very ethereal and undeniably pretty. In addition, FKA twigs’ voice is stunning in every track. Whether she’s rapping or crooning, the artist delivers amazing vocals to accompany the spectacular instrumentals. 

The mixtape’s best points, however, are occasionally undermined by its other forgettable songs. With the exception of a few songs like “thank you song” and “ride the dragon,” the mixtape can feel underwhelming, and a lot of its tracks seem half-baked. One of the most memorable songs, “pamplemousse,” is simultaneously one of the weakest on the album, autotuned to the point of sounding annoying. 

Furthermore, FKA twigs clearly takes inspiration from several different genres of music in her most recent work, from hyperpop to Afrobeats. For some listeners, the unpredictability is a plus, but for others, it gets old fast and is too incomprehensible. With that being said, Caprisongs is a mixtape, not an album, so some lack of unity between tracks is to be expected. Regardless, the mixtape certainly is still good — but for many listeners, it might be too jumbled to be genuinely enjoyable. On the other hand, anyone craving dreamy, trippy art pop should probably give Caprisongs a listen. They might find a new favorite album in it.