Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo will release her debut album Souled Out in September.
On Def Jam and ARTium Recordings.
After leaving Epic Records in 2003, Jhene Aiko took a hiatus from her music career and returned in 2011, with the release of her debut mixtape Sailing Soul(s).
“Souled Out” is a concept album, and it goes through some kind of evolution.
The album tells the story of a female going through heartbreak, confusion and being in a dark place, before reaching enlightenment.
We listened to Souled Out:
“To Love & Die” has some deep bruises.
Cavities of sombre moments. And some wonderfully vibrant vocals that rise – spiralling – above and beyond the blackened ashes of those dark-coal rhythms…
“Spotless Mind” is a soul classic.
With a languid pace and a lazy afternoon feeling – as the cold-sweet voice wraps around your insides like sticky plastic blankets.
“The Pressure” is cold and lonely.
The racking beat limps around slowly. And purposefully.
Yet the tinsel voice flitters away from the growing seriousness of the situation.
“Eternal Sunshine” is sweet and tragic. With a hint of low spice.
The sentiment here is that we all change. But some don’t change quick enough. Or far enough. Clever, that, isn’t it?
There is nothing new on this album.
But what has been achieved is – overall – of good quality and beautifully produced.
It’s a shame there was not more inventiveness and imagination … that’s all.
@neilmach © 2014
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