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Devout
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Devout
Current price: $29.99
Barnes and Noble
Devout
Current price: $29.99
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Since debuting with a 2010 EP that also launched the remarkable
, London-based producer
has been responsible for some of the U.K. grime scene's most spacious, reflective music. While much of the genre is brash, aggressive, and hedonistic,
's music is calmer and slower, as well as more melancholy, having more in common with ambient music and downcast R&B than hip-hop or garage. Following the critical success of his 2014 debut full-length,
, as well as the success of
, the club night and label
runs along with fellow grime visionaries
,
, and
, he returns to
with his second full-length,
. While
consisted of heartbroken instrumentals (occasionally incorporating gripping R&B vocal samples),
is far more pop-oriented, with many of the album's songs featuring lyrics inspired by
's fatherhood. His children's voices even appear on the album's intro, and final song "Oscar" is clearly sung to them. The album isn't exactly much lighter or happier than its predecessor, however. The dark, brooding "Priority" is graced by a powerful guest verse by
, detailing the struggles of adjusting to parenthood and leaving behind one's previous carefree lifestyle. "VPN" features dancehall-influenced vocals by
, whose pleas articulate the desparation of loving someone from a distance. On "My Life,"
expresses his devotion to his family, repeating "it's yours" over drifting layers of electronics that softly flare up. "Pleasure" adds a bit of tension, as vocalist
conveys her devotion even as it seems like the relationship is running the risk of falling apart. "Our Love" reprises
's lyrics from the intro ("Do you remember when we made our love?") over faster, pounding percussion and distant, faded Mellotron-like tones. "Black Tide" is largely instrumental (there's a bit of muttering underneath), but its teary, whistling melodies and paranoid camera whirrs express a great deal of heartstruck drama.
will undoubtedly resonate with former ravers who have now grown up, started families, and face problems dealing with relationships and parenthood (and whose taste in music has drifted closer to introspective pop and R&B rather than dance music). ~ Paul Simpson