As the French avant-popper returns with new single Rendez-vous avec toi, we celebrate the best of an artist who uses sleek songwriting to grapple with knotty emotion
Originally leaked online by the artist himself, Christine and the Queens’ fifth album, Hopecore, was released under a new name of Rahim Redcar (he’s now back to releasing as Christine and the Queens, and using Chris as his own name). Hopecore eschewed the sophisticated pop of his early years in favour of lo-fi, roughly drawn sonic sketches, and this flighty opener is built around ricocheting drum beat patterns that are eventually pierced wide open by laser-like synths.