It’s taken Mica Levi over three years to follow up her debut album, but she’s hardly turned old and sensible. When this musical DIY fanatic spies a vacuum cleaner, she still sees a viable musical instrument. However, she and her band have gotten noisier and less electronic. At times like The Raincoats’ rambunctious younger sister; at others more like M.I.A. without the passport, repeat listens to Mica’s latest reveal shards of melody, but less charm than before. As a result, ‘Never’ walks a fine line between experimental and exasperating.

Nick Levine