THE BPM marks an exciting new chapter for Sudan Archives, as she moves further onto the dancefloor, leaving the violin she's known so well for behind for much of the album.

Sudan steps straight into this fresh sound with the opening track ‘DEAD’, starting with a minimal beat and opening into a driving breakbeat by the second half of the track. She explores other sounds of the 90s with an unexpected jungle beat opening up on ‘DAVID & GOLIATH’, telling us she’s not afraid to rip up the rule book. More surprises are to come as it appears having tracks move through multiple styles is a calling card of THE BPM.

She’s often worked with trap beats and other rap styles in the past which reappear throughout the album on lead singles ‘YEA YEA YEA’ and ‘MS PAC MAN,’ the latter marking one of the highlights of the album. For a lighter touch she comes back to classic pop on ‘A BUG’S LIFE’ and ‘THE NATURE OF POWER’. She even works in a bit of synthwave on ‘NOIRE’. It’s a heady mix of styles which she carries off with her usual honest, thoughtful, sometimes explicit and often provocative lyrics, increasing the impact with her varying vocal delivery styles.

The violin makes a welcome return on ‘SHE’S GOT PAIN’ which breaks up the electronic based album nicely. Her playing is so precise and powerful it makes you wish she’d found a way to work it into some of the other tracks. Having seen her live several times, she theatrically puts the violin centre stage so I’m very interested to see how her break away from it will affect her live performance style. However, it’s also always special to see artists embracing new styles and not feeling pigeon-holed by what they’ve made before. Sudan Archives definitely isn't afraid to look forwards.

THE BPM is a bold and forward thinking album for an artist who has never shied away from experimentation. It’s so exciting to hear an artist moving in a markedly new direction and owning it as she does. Sudan Archives has been a powerful presence for some time and she brings her full energy to THE BPM.