‘Renaissance’ is quite a juxtaposition of a title, as this long-awaited album feels more like a culmination of the new Beyonce introduced by 2016’s ‘Lemonade’, rather than a revival of her past as the queen of the pop ballad. In fact, there’s not a single ballad on here. Instead, the album is dominated by sounds of disco, soul, house and dancehall as she celebrates her sexuality, wears her politics on her sleeve and embraces being a black woman through bold lyrics. She shared on Instagram that the album allowed her to “feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving”, and this is clear to see (or hear). LT

Out now on RCA