THE WAIT IS OVER.After show-stealingcollabs with SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, Drake, Solange and Kanye West (check Ye’s 2016 non-album cut “Saint Pablo”), Sampha Sisay finally delivers his debut solo long-playerfor Young Turks. Co-produced by XL Recordings’ in-house producerRodaidh McDonald, known for his extensive work with The xx, Adele and King Krule (fans of any and all of the above, this is for you), Process is a disarmingly unique take on soul and electronic music including, but not limited to:piano ballads, LinnDrum, trap, frenetic percussion suddenly giving way to moody atmosphere reminiscent of the more introspective moments in betweenDrake album cuts.Sampha goes it alone on all tentracks, entirely devoid of features with the exception of a mysteriousKanye West writing credit on “Timmy’s Prayer”. We’ve been waiting for “Under” to be cut to wax since we first heard it open his 2014 Boiler Room set. You’d be hard pressed to find anythingmore soulful than “Incomplete Kisses”, or more earnest than “What Shouldn’t I Be” all year. While mainstream R&B has become virtually indistinguishable from hip-hop (and don’t get me started on “alt-R&B”), Processdemonstrates an important third path for modern soul music that the nextgeneration of songwriters and producers should pay close attention to. Recommended.
- black vinyl pressing
- printed insert
- digital download included
- music label: Young Turks 2017
reviewed by peanut dust 02/2017
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