affirmations & incantations: thraed of AMAARAE

oh wow, that is awesome!

and are you hearing all those *voices*???
yes, one of the producers is Cracker Mallo

production is fantastic, perfect spacy blend of afropop and amapiano

otoh, that Tems cover of “No Woman No Cry” is so extremely unnecessary

the production is really cool, and it's nice to know how good she sounds on something as big budget as this

lol yeah that cover honestly crosses the line to being repellent for me, I really hope she's putting together a strong album

I hope so too, but with all the (indirect) US success she’s having (a prominent feature on one of the biggest songs of 2021 and a recent US number one hit based on a sample of one of her songs) I imagine there’s a lot of industry pressure on her to go for a big crossover project. hope she stays grounded

new song, “Reckless & Sweet”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4JihPH3i_M

nice

yes good

maybe feels a little album-track-ish, but as that it's promising

the sweet and reckless video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBMiNencjrU

New song "Co-Star": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Dk21erUpvw

first listen: wrote that off as cute but slight; played it again and love it. I'm a horrible Libra, not sure if that's relevant

yes she has a thread! i loooooooove this

I revisited Reckless & Sweet too and like it even more--very psyched for the album (June 9)

like it even more *now

this is from Spinall’s recent album - not as good (production/arrangement/wise for one, but still of interest perhaps:

“Bow Down”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgMIl1zk5P0

Not 100% convinced on the "Nude Beach A Go Go" moment but otherwise love the album, the first half particularly is banger city

Yeah it’s a treat of a listen. I do like the rock moves in the second half.

only halfway through but hell yes this is awesome and just so much fun

I don't know that Azealia song so hopefully the moment monotony mentions misses me

ok yeah there are some *wild* swerves on the back half, but I think it all works really well. as predicted I didn't pick up on the nude beach thing

I haven't looked up the lyrics, but this is unabashedly queer, right? like much more so than the last album?

Oh I only mentioned “Nude…” as a throwaway comparison to another instance of a rock song showing up late in an album out of nowhere. It happens on the new SZA album too. I don’t mind it but it certainly caught me off guard!

Oh ok lol and yeah the SZA is a good comparison, though tbf TAYDK was book-ended by those little rock song snippets too

Loving this. Very summery. Am I the only one getting Doja Cat vibes from the vocals though?

I can hear what you mean on, e.g., Wasted Eyes but Amaarae is soooo much more charming, I do not care to think about this any further :)

This album’s great! Guess I should listen to the earlier stuff huh?

going rock on the last track works well, don't really care for the earlier bit though

Do not care for her vocals at all

Do not care for your post at all

"Counterfeit" the standout to me rn, warming up to the rest to various degrees

this is good as hell, agreed that "counterfeit" is a highlight. love the clipse/neptunes flip

going rock on the last track works well, don't really care for the earlier bit though

is where i'm at too, love that last track. this album is so good

Never got into the first album, but this is very good. Might even be better than the new Asake.

Uuuhhhh yeaaaaah this is the album of the year

Yep quite possibly.

The arrangements are consistently amazing, how do you get music simultaneously so sparkling, languid, rippling and energetic as “Co-Star”?

prob the best musical experience i’ll have all year was listening to this and the new meshell ndegeocello right in a row

I'm kinda glad we're all in agreement here! (Well most of us at least.)

I should add I have a short Shfl review up

https://theshfl.com/album/Fountain-Baby

Fountain Baby is a sick album! I was just looking for any new random rap/r+b stuff for my son's ipod but I'll end up listening this a lot myself.

one two ready touch touch touch touch touch touch touch touch touch touch

tiny desk! her voice sounds softer live, really like these arrangements

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGyP2VGUQMY

Ha, was literally about to post this. Very great!

delightful!

Yep , sounds good

Co-Star just clicked. WHOA

I'm very late to the party but ditto, I just had to pay attention to the production and rhythms. The mix of harp, horns, pop rap, r&b is dazzling, bubbling, seductive, fun. It has the charm of the wild and unexpected invention, the cohesion of being all over the place and occupying all corners, but also the focus and the flair and the sharpness. So many highlights.

that tiny desk concert just upthread is a great way to hear the underlying song structures, it offers a really cool lens on the album

had to give my amaarae ticket for next week away because i won’t be around ;_;

otoh i did give it to someone whose final day was today and she was delighted so i got a good vibe off it.