I’ll always welcome reminders of how recordings, by their innate nature, serve as auricular records of the time and place in which they were created. This is thus, as Lisbon-based Anna Prior – best known for providing rhythmic backbone, sat at the back of Metronomy – releases her solo début, Thank You For Nothing, at a time when venturing to previously unexplored places seems a thing of a distant past. Presently, this particular track sits atop what is, by Prior’s standards, a simple reggaeton-type beat, as lyrics of sand and sangría perfectly complement a Balearic feel. But it’s these ebullient, blobby synths – directly reminiscent of The Knife’s Silent Shout – which really buoy the piece, as Prior’s somewhat unsuspecting vocal quietly “climb[s] into the caves of [your] heart.” A startling introduction; a Smash Hit; a timely moment’s escape from changeable meteorological conditions (h) and ‘traffic light’ travel systems (a), and a window into another world therefore. So thanks are undoubtedly due for all of this.

Thank You For Nothing is available now, via Anna Prior’s very own Beat Palace Records imprint.