Restraint. That’s what I think makes this album so great.
On the hit singles, “Wildest Moment” and “Running”, you expect Jesse Ware (yeah, the same vocalist on SBTRKT’s album) to have a Dawson’s Creek moment where she’s yelping and flexing her white chops in the last quarter of the song. That moment never comes and I’m thankful. Stays in the cut (ed.note: after repeated listens, there is indeed some DC moments). I recently absorbed the entire album on a road trip and by the end, I had a Soul II Soul taste in my mouth… not so much “Back II Life” but more “Keep On Movin” with its wandering, breaky sound. Masterful modern production by Dave Okumu, Julio Bashmore, and Kid Harpoon (a distant cousin to Malay’s work on Channel Orange). PS, Jessie, lose the heavy make-up, you look much hotter au naturale. Recommended.
- music label: Cherrytree / Interscope 2013