Canadian Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq has always walked her own singular path, whether appearing in True Detective, working with fellow avant pop artists Björk or Mike Patton, or becoming an author. But what’s most surprising here in her latest studio album is just how gentle she can be.

The Polaris Prize-winning musician still wears her activism on her sleeve, as evinced by ferocious, full-throttle opening track ‘Fuck War’. And there are glimpses of that extraordinary rasping instrument of hers in tracks like ‘Foxtrot’, an industrial grind featuring a collaboration with Fucked Up’s Damien Abraham, and the febrile ‘Bohica’ , intense enough to resemble a panic attack.

But it’s the subdued moments that most startle. I was quite unprepared for how disarmingly sweet and girlish she can be on ‘When They Call’, a heady, string-infused elegy. ‘Exit Wound’ further explores this side of her; haunted and haunting electronic glitches, as she ruminates on how easily life can be snuffed out .’Black Boot’ is undercut by heavy breathing and drones, her most nightmarish Orwellian imagery front and centre.

Produced by Sumach and Jean Martin, it’s possibly her most intimate album to date, but that’s not to suggest she has softened her approach in any way. As she meditates on harnessing nature for survival, so too does she wrestle with the anxiety of struggle. It’s arguably less adventurous than Tongues or Retribution, but it’s still beautiful; full of cracked poetry, spoken word and unbridled, if cautious, hope.