Track Review: Twigs – “Ache”

In the age of information, Twigs is adhering as closely to the letter and spirit of the word “enigma” as is humanly possible. The UK bass/R&B recording artist is maintaining Weeknd or iamamiwhoami levels of anonymity, with nothing but two songs and a few photographs to her name. Her paper-thin voice is spellbinding, and falls somewhere between Emika and Purity Ring’s Megan James. The pair of cuts we’ve heard from her so far are glassy and minimalist, a sound that few newcomers manage to nail this well. “Ache” ferments in your brain, slowly accumulating skittish layers of noise but never sacrificing an ounce of its grace. It’s one of those songs that make you wonder how it hadn’t existed before now, a sentiment that’s summed up pithily at the chorus: “I ache for you.”