Music review: The Weeknd, Beauty Behind The Madness

The Weeknd. AP

The Weeknd
Beauty Behind The Madness
Rating: 4/5

Right from the opening klaxon this third album from The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye) signals its intention to blow you away.

Commonly referred to as hipster R&B or indie R&B, The Weeknd's sound borrows from artists such as Michael Jackson and Prince but he's also known for adventurous sampling choices and straying from mainstream R&B.

His songs tend to revolve around sex, sex and more sex and the language is not for the faint-hearted.

However, the songs are otherwise all class. Earned It, also from the 50 Shades of Grey soundtrack, is a slow-strutting, sultry waltz of a number, while the more uptempo Can't Feel My Face channels Jacko.

The 80s electropop of In The Night sounds like a modern day Easy Lover while The Hills is dark and brooding.

But closing track Angel takes the cake, rounding out the madness with a slice of heavenly beauty - guest vocals from Maty Noyes are the high point of an album that also features the talents of Ed Sheeran and Lana Del Rey.