The kids are coming up from behind.
British producer and singer-songwriter, Dev Hynes (stage name, Blood Orange), who initially excelled at crafting spacey atmospheric pop songs that updated Michael Jackson for the re verb era, shifted towards the esoteric on 2018’s Blood Swan, a collage of melodic snippets, ambience and brief conceptual pieces. After a 7-year hiatus, the new modus is revived … Read more
Ghanaian-American singer Amaerae, who plays Afrobeat-infused R&B and dance music, released her third album, BLACK STAR, ostensibly a tribute to her homeland. The music is decidedly hip-house focused based on cerebral beats contrasting with her hushed, high-pitched and amorous vocal. There are several unusual interpolations of older pop songs across the record (most egregiously Cher’s … Read more
American singer-songwriter and producer, who grew up in Germany the son of diplomats, Dijon Duenas (monikered as just ‘Dijon’) orchestrates progressive pop and R&B, derived from Prince but absorbing contemporary influences from the likes of Bon Iver, Clarence Clarity and Frank Ocean. Dijon’s long-awaited debut album, Absolutely arrived in 2022, made in conjunction with frequent … Read more
Tahliah Debrett Barnett, monikered ‘FKA Twigs’ released her third studio album, Eusexua, her most straightforwardly danceable album yet, mostly overseen by Welsh producer, Koreless. No doubt her vulnerable whisper can still captivate but the production is often unflattering. The addition of ‘club’ music arguably detracts rather than contributes to her emotional style which still manifests … Read more
Wisconsin’s Bon Iver, ostensibly the project of solo singer-songwriter, Justin Vernon released their fifth studio album SABLE, fABLE, split between the earnest acoustic ballads on the first half and blue-eyed soul on the second half. The lyrics, which are largely romantic and optimistic, form a 180 with the heartbroken and tragic bard of the debut … Read more