Lav's Music Corner

Kelela is an American R&B singer who experienced a critical breakout of sorts on her 2017 album Take Me Apart  which adapted the idea of a classic R&B romance into a strange electronica-influences power fantasy featuring collaborators like Arca and The xx's Romy. The album was lauded with critical acclaim but Kelela has been relatively quiet in the years since, but re-emerged last year with a line of singles leading up to this album. Review by Lav: I was late to get Take Me Apart . In a time where I was crazy for anything Arca, I don't think the electro-R&B love stories really spoke to me but in the years since Kelela slowly, then very quickly became one of my favorite singers in experimental R&B. Fast-forward to now, 7 years later, when Kelela has been releasing a string of absolutely excellent singles that have me majorly hyped for this project. With a set of collaborators from the electronica universe, including but not limited to KAYTRANADA, Shygirl, and Jun...

5.  Same Problems?  - A$AP Rocky While Rocky has been far from silent over the past few years. this song's live debut last month and the serious nature of its subject matter feels like the biggest sign of future endeavors since Rocky dropped 2018's Testing . That's exciting enough on its own, making the song's meditative style an interesting choice, but one that grew on me as the week went on. Ultimately, how much I enjoyed the messaging of the track and how well it fits the presentation won me over.  Listen 4.  brrr  - Kim Petras Like a lot of recent Kim Petras singles there are things I don't like about the track, they're just overpowered by the things I do. The instrumental here is basically a "we have SOPHIE at home" type beat, though if I wasn't so familiar with Sophie's work I might be a bit more interested in the beat because it really does match the song's icy demeanor. What really sells me on the song as usual is Kim's confiden...

5.  Tenkiller  - Chat Pile The breakout year for Chat Pile continues as they dropped the soundtrack for a film they scored a few years ago, lead off with this double single that contains more insanity from the band whose insanity is already a little difficult to describe. Whatever you think you're getting into with the heavy but well-paced post-hardcore instrumental, you aren't ready for the lyrics on this track. Well, maybe if you heard their full album earlier this year that can take a bit of the edge off.  Listen 4.  Nights In December  - Tkay Maidza So I didn't see this coming. It's an R&B flavored track sure but with a beat that combines some warbled synths with clacky background percussion that feels straight out of Tierra Whack's terminally underrated Peppers and Onions . The icing on the cake is a repetitive but effortlessly smooth hook that is pretty much guaranteed to stick in your head.  Listen 3.  Fingers Of Steel  - Shame While I'...

The first time I opened this I realized I had written "October 23th" in the header so there are sure to be more errors from here.  Enjoy <3 5.  Sunset  - Caroline Polachek I went back and forth on this one quite a bit as the plucky Spanish guitars felt like a very strange combo for THIS song when performed by THIS artist. But honestly as I kept listening the song started to grow on me primarily through its incredibly infectious refrains. While I wish the bridge had a little something more than just Caroline's extended vocalizing I do still like the song.  Listen 4.  Where I Go - NxWorries (Feat. H.E.R) NxWorries, the collaborative project of Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge is back after a long hiatus and they're announcing their return with this silky bedroom anthem which pairs Paak with H.E.R. Once you break down the lyrics there's quite a bit more going on here than the normal bassline of love and lust but you couldn't tell just from how infectiously smooth...

I'm late, sorry. No more wasted time. 5.  Talking To Yourself  - Carly Rae Jepsen While this may be the least spectacular of Carly's new singles this year it's still quite a solid song with an exciting climax that lends credit to just how infectious of a song crafter she is. While the short runtime and verses that don't really take the song anywhere can be issues, ultimately the song has the fundamentals of what a good Carly song needs.  Listen 4.  Washed Away  - Kelela It's good to have Kelela back. While her progressive and futuristic style of R&B has always been closer to maximalizing than distancing, this new song plays it straight with very promising results. Kelela's perfectly powerful yet perfectly intimate singing vocals fit excellently over this creeping instrumental which makes for a song that just has me in its clutches and refuses to let go.  Listen 3.  Ovule  - Bjork Two weeks and two new Bjork singles, what have we done to be so ...