BANKS Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Banks arrived shrouded in mystery a year or so ago, the lack of information surrounding her contributing to an enigmatic aura that functioned as a kind of feedback loop for an instant fanbase entranced by her confessional, razor-sharp avant-soul torch songs. Although the enigma may have slightly lessened, the LA singer's sultry talents sound just as powerful as they did on her emergence, and the release of Goddess sees them crystallise into a confident statement of intent that establishes her as an artist worth taking very seriously. Emotionally raw yet seductive in their electronic soundscapes, these songs pack a punch that belies their smooth surroundings, and her deep, sophisticated voice always sounds engaging rather than overly stylised. That album title may just be less cheeky than it seems.