The Age of Austerity. Recession. Public sector cut backs. But did anyone bother to tell Kanye? Two years since his last release, Kanye West is here to buck the prevailing global mood with a grandly opulent artistic vision that is staggering in both scope and intensity.
Opening with the choral fairytale of ‘Dark Fantasy’, West proceeds to weave a tapestry that is both dense and spacious; referencing The Beatles (‘Runaway’), King Crimson (‘Power’) and Kraftwerk (‘Hell Of A Life’) whilst ensuring it is all his own.
This is not just West’s best album, it’s a keen contender for the most ambitious LP in hip-hop history. West side story!
9/10
Words by Adam Park
