Here’s a surprise: the fourth album from Abel Tesfaye isn’t the nihilistic black hole you thought it’d be. I love evil dissociative Abel as much as anyone, but it’s strangely affecting to hear After Hours’ lucid tales of brokenheartedness and dying love. Featuring collaborations with Oneohtrix Point Never and Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, After Hours touches on pleading balladry (“Scared To Live”), funky late-night confessionals (“In Your Eyes”, which features a goddamn sax solo), and, of course, a little bit of bloodiness in the form of the album’s stunning, six-minute title track. Age has softened the king of fatalist pop and, against all odds, the new look suits him quite well. — Shaad D'Souza

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