It’s hard to believe that the extraordinary Lorde (New Zealander Ella Maria Lani Yelich-O’Connor) was only 16 when she made this album, not 26, given the shrewd and worldly cynicism of her lyrics, cocooned in sparse and hypnotic rhythms. Royals, a riposte to consumer pop culture, was one of the best pop songs of the year – yet that may pale beside what she might achieve in 10 years time.
