The fourth and long-awaited studio album of New-Zealands now middle-aged teenage sensation, Lorde. Virgin, almost entirely self produced alongside composer ‘Jim-e-Stack’ returns to the electronic palette and youthful existentialism of Melodrama (perhaps influenced by the success of her collaboration with Charli XCX on Girl, So Confusing) but this time the production and performances are bland. Singles like What Was That and Hammer are impossible to talk about musically as so little happens. Even if the lyrics are intriguing on tracks like Man of the Year and Favourite Daughter, without a memorable melody or beat, they fall flat. These tracks don’t stand up to even the weakest tracks on Melodrama or Pure Heroine.
The relatively simple Current Affairs with a tense guitar part is almost a blessing even if a little monotonous. The acapella Clear Blue at least attempts something different but lacks the emotions. Dan Nigro can be credited with the most effective commercial track, Broken Glass, which nods to the fashionable 2000s pop revival expedited by Charli Xcx’s Brat. The true standout is the driving, dancefloor-ready Shapeshifter, with a busy disco rhythm, propulsing towards an emotional climax. Overall, not much to salvage.
One gets the impression that Lorde likely has little interesting to write about these days, having long graduated from the aching adolescence of Pure Heroine and the teenage sentimentality of Melodrama. While Solar Power was her worst-received album, it at least signalled a path forward with an expanded ‘mature’ instrumental palette, rather than this backward-looking album.
Label: Universal New Zealand / Republic
Released: June 27, 2025
Losing My Edge Rating: 4/10
Best Tracks: Shapeshifter