When it was announced that Janelle Monáe had been secured to play this year’s Electric Picnic, Irish tweeps whipped up such a churn of back-and-forth squeals and OMGs that I was surprised the Fail Whale himself didn’t turn up to the party. Janelle Monáe is big news. Young, ambitious, sharp and soulful, it’s not a stretch to wonder if she could be the most credible event in urban music this decade. But wondering is one thing; painting Monáe as the Saviour Of All Pop is quite another. Not that it doesn’t seem to be working for Monáe’s camp - we seem more than happy to have the hype slam around us in walls of strained awesomeness we’re not encouraged to peep around. Janelle Monáe is wonderful! Janelle Monáe is uber-talented. JANELLE MONÁE IS THE SECOND COMING! Which is why this review of debut, full-length album The ArchAndroid comes so late … There’s more →