The Queen of Hearts
Offa Rex
(Nonesuch Records)
Offa Rex was born out of love for a neglected art form.
It all came about when American indie-group The Decemberists reached out to British singer Olivia Chaney on Twitter after they were blown away by her take on the standard Willie O' Winsbury on her 2015 debut album The Longest River.
The conversation turned to a joint tour and has now been cemented with this album, The Queen of Hearts, under the name Offa Rex.
In what is essentially a set of covers of traditional English folk standards, it is immediately apparent how the group have struck a fine balance between paying respect to the original, while at the same time giving them a deft modern makeover.
A lot of this is down to Tucker Martine (credits include REM, Stephen Malkmus and Modest Mouse), whose vibrant production keep even the most maudlin songs infused with energy.
Indeed, what stands out, and what may disconcert a fair few listeners, is how loud it all is. The album sounds as if the group plugged into their amplifiers for a slightly raucous set in the living room.
If you are listening with your headphones and your find that your head is ringing after the first few tunes, it will almost certainly be down to heady brew of chiming guitars, electric harpsichord and droning harmonium.
None of them overpower The Queen of Hearts' biggest asset: those absolutely gorgeous vocals of Chaney, which can illicit goosebumps and tears in equal measure.
Her take on The Old Churchyard is spectral. In Chaney's hands, a sombre meditation on death becomes something hopeful and soothing.
The Celtic-tinged Bonny May has Chaney and The Decemberists locking in perfectly, sounding like a souped-up Clannad.
The audacious Sheepcrook and Black Dog provides a daring middle section that has Chaney's vocals soaring over a sea of thick, Black Sabbath-like riffs.
Brilliant and revelatory, The Queen of Hearts is the folk album you never knew you needed.
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1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
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7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
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- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
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Sector: FinTech
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Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
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