★★★½
In light of comparisons to the legendary Erykah Badu, submitting one’s ears to the latest from soul/jazz-tinged trio Moonchild initially suggests false advertisement.
But don’t worry; the conclusion to draw is that it’s a major slow-grower.
The wholly understated vocals of frontwoman Amber Navran float just high enough to peek out from the surrounds of the shimmering percussion and keys, but for the most part they blend into the compositions with ease. Nowhere is this more apparent than on opening track ‘All The Joy’, and later ‘Nobody’.
Then there is the instrumentation itself. It too holds a subtle tone, not embarking too far from the slow jam vibe but adding that extra bit of juice in the pivotal parts to keep the build upping nicely. The funky squelch of bass in ‘I’ll Make It Easy’ and ‘The Truth’, with the wave of cymbals and tempo of the keys, hold this well.
A record truly made for the lovers of downbeat simplicity, there is a tangible warmth to this album. It may not be a sprinter, but it could prove a classic case of slow and steady wins the race.
Moonchild’sPlease Rewindis available now through Tru Thoughts.
