‘Weirdo’ is a brilliant album crafted by a musical talent of gargantuan proportions and with all things being fair and equal, it should sell by the truck load.
Read more‘Acts of Faith’ Offers Further Testament to the Spiritual Fortitude of SAULT’s Musical Vision | Album Review
Relatively uncluttered drums, bass, keys and guitar backdrops to Cleo Sol’s expressive and shyly powerful voice are the order of the day here on the UK collective’s eleventh studio affair.
Read moreMichael Kiwanuka Manifests Strength in Softer Tones on ‘Small Changes’ | Album Review
Listening to Kiwanuka’s fourth studio affair feels like falling into the comfort of your bed after a long night of good food, carefree dancing and indulgence in a few too many vices.
Read moreMustafa Mines Emotional Depths on Resonant ‘Dunya’ | Album Review
Life weighs heavy on Mustafa, but the songs captured on ‘Dunya’ never feel overly gloomy thanks to the humanity that shines through at every turn.
Read moreNubya Garcia’s Artistic Evolution Takes Bold, Beautiful Form on ‘Odyssey’ | Album Review
The uniting thread that runs throughout ‘Odyssey’ is the presence of memorable riffs and phrases that stick long in the memory, providing the hook to lure in the listener.
Read moreLynda Dawn’s Thoughtfully Conceived, Exquisitely Executed ‘11th Hour’ Is a Treasure | Review
Everything in the production of this EP is placed to perfection, with the instrumentation precisely balanced and her vocals the sweetest of cherries atop the cake.
Read moreMeshell Ndegeocello Summons and Supplies Inspiration on Revelatory ‘No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin’ | Album Review
Beyond her external influences, Ndegeocello is equally inspired by those performers she surrounds herself with and here they concoct a heady brew that satisfies on every conceivable level.
Read moreMeshell Ndegeocello and Her Kindred Musical Spirits Embody and Elevate the Genius of Sun Ra on ‘Red Hot & Ra: The Magic City’ | Album Review
As a tribute to the musical vision of Sun Ra, ‘Red Hot & Ra: The Magic City’ succeeds greatly in following but not retracing his astral footsteps.
Read moreShabaka’s ‘Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace’ Possesses Both Attributes in Abundance | Album Review
Ultimately, if you want peace, you’ll find it here on Shabaka Hutchings’ debut solo album in droves. And if you don’t, then maybe you never really wanted it or weren’t quite ready for it.
Read moreCleo Sol Enlightens the Spirit, Fortifies the Soul with ‘Gold’ | Album Review
Across ‘Gold,’ Sol offers faith, hope and the promise of a brighter future and in these times, that is in short supply.
Read moreCorinne Bailey Rae’s Artistic Versatility and Veracity Illuminate Purposeful ‘Black Rainbows’ | Album Review
Arguably the most striking element of ‘Black Rainbows’ is the intent that bristles throughout. Every note, every silent moment serves a purpose in the grand scheme of things.
Read moreCleo Sol Traverses Emotional Depths with Grace and Strength on Plaintive, Powerful ‘Heaven’ | Album Review
Cleo Sol’s third studio affair both promotes and demands stillness and contemplation to fully appreciate its many charms.
Read moreMeshell Ndegeocello’s Musical Vision Enthralls on Immersive ‘The Omnichord Real Book’ | Album Review
On her thirteenth studio affair, Ndegeocello has created a whole even more powerful than its constituent parts, taking in a range of ideas that dazzle and enchant with their beauty and power.
Read moreMadison McFerrin Leaves a Lush, Lasting Impression with Debut ‘I Hope You Can Forgive Me’ | Album Review
McFerrin is clearly aware of the old showbiz adage “leave ‘em wanting more” and she manages that easily here with her beguiling vocal skills and arrangements alongside solid songwriting.
Read moreArlo Parks’ Lyricism Shines Amidst Mundane Musical Backdrops on “My Soft Machine” | Album Review
There is no doubting Parks’ artistry, and her lyrics remain vital and impressive. But the music, at times, ventures towards the less memorable end of the scale.
Read moreJoshua Idehen’s Personal Reflections Yield Universal Revelations on Inspired ‘Learn To Swim, A Mixtape’ | Review
Across ‘Learn To Swim, A Mixtape,’ Idehen drops memorable, meaningful line after line accompanied by a variety of euphoric choruses and gently throbbing variations of dancefloor life.
Read moreAdi Oasis’ Multiple Musical Dimensions Radiate on ‘Lotus Glow’ | Album Review
‘Lotus Glow’ finds the singer-songwriter-bassist scaling new artistic heights and proving that her pen can cover a variety of subject matters with aplomb.
Read moreYazmin Lacey Expands Her Musical Palette and Enriches Her Vocal Charms on ‘Voice Notes’ | Album Review
The overarching themes of Lacey’s debut album are self-discovery and the search for peace of mind, both of which are explored adeptly by her frank lyrical touch.
Read moreJosé James Gracefully Reimagines Erykah Badu’s Imaginative Songs with ‘On & On’ | Album Review
By covering Badu’s songs, James is not only offering a valid and enjoyable reinterpretation of them, but he is also showing that these compositions should be considered part of soul music’s canon.
Read moreLittle Simz Seeks, Finds and Delivers Her Truth on Captivating ‘NO THANK YOU’ | Album Review
Little Simz’s fifth studio affair proves yet again that the heavenly combination of Inflo’s ever-expanding musical imagination and her intelligent, insightful and emotive lyrics have few, if any, equals.
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