What makes Magdalene by FKA twigs notable?

This album received widespread critical acclaim, securing a spot on numerous year-end lists and earning FKA twigs a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album. The poignant exploration of vulnerability and femininity resonated strongly within the contemporary music scene, influencing artists across genres. Magdalene is FKA twigs' second studio album, following her critically acclaimed debut LP, LP1, released in 2014. By 2019, twigs had undergone significant personal challenges, including a breakup with actor Robert Pattinson and health issues, which deeply influenced the album's emotional landscape.

Who is Magdalene for?

Magdalene works well if you're into steady emotional introspection, immersive listening experience and haunting atmospheric soundscapes.

How many songs are on Magdalene?

Magdalene has 9 tracks, running approximately 38 minutes.

Magdalene

FKA twigs · 2019

38 min · 9 tracks · trip hop

A haunting blend of ethereal vocals and experimental production that navigates themes of love, loss, and self-discovery.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Cellophane — The song's raw emotional depth is highlighted through its minimalistic instrumentation and confessional lyrics, making it a standout moment of vulnerability.
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Holy Terrain — Featuring contributions from rapper Future, this track fuses contrasting styles that underscore themes of longing and desire within complex relationships.
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Mary Magdalene — The title track serves as a powerful meditation on identity and femininity, encapsulating the album's overarching narrative around love and loss.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

81 /100

Summit

Higher than 100% of albums we've rated

Magdalene showcases innovative composition and production, creating a unique soundscape that invites deep exploration.

What we noticed

The album opens with a track that layers haunting vocals over minimalist production, setting a somber tone that persists throughout.
Several tracks feature unconventional song structures, often eschewing traditional verse-chorus forms in favor of more fluid arrangements.
The use of silence and space is prominent, with moments of stillness that enhance the emotional weight of the lyrics and melodies.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 9/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 9/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady emotional introspection
immersive listening experience
haunting atmospheric soundscapes
contemplative late-night vibes

Where this album fits

Career context: Magdalene is FKA twigs' second studio album, following her critically acclaimed debut LP, LP1, released in 2014. By 2019, twigs had undergone significant personal challenges, including a breakup with actor Robert Pattinson and health issues, which deeply influenced the album's emotional landscape.
Stylistic neighbors: Björk· Sevdaliza· Grimes