Over the course of the last two-and-a-half decades, Arno Carstens has established himself as one of the most prolific South African songwriters, conveying the thoughts of a dismayed generation as they navigated post-apartheid spaces. His seventh album, Out of the Light into the Night, was born during SA’s similarly chaotic ongoing lockdown, but being afforded that precious time to put the finishing touches on a 12-track tour de force ultimately sets this work apart from the rest. With production from Charlie Hamilton, Robin Auld, Fred den Hartog (Die Heuwels Fantasties), and Ross McDonald (Hog Hoggidy Hog), this is Carstens at his bravest and most honest—stressed but casting a hopeful eye on the future.