Mikky Ekko
has always been an eclectic artist, blending pop, folk, R&B, and hip-hop influences with a dramatic, romantic flair. However, his breakthrough single, the Grammy-nominated
Rihanna
duet "Stay," set expectations for and perceptions about his music that he clarifies on his debut album,
Time
. As on the collaborations with
David Guetta
and
Chris Malinchak
that arrived before the album,
Ekko
spends a fair amount of
expanding his sound and downplaying anything that comes too close to "Stay"'s piano balladry: the album begins with the fizzy single "Smile" and doesn't delve into slower, moodier territory until its second half with brooding tracks like "Mourning Doves" and "Comatose." In between,
works with a who's who of producers from many styles of music, including
TV on the Radio
's
David Sitek
, pop hitmakers
Benny Blanco
,
Stargate
, and
Ryan Tedder
, and left-field hip-hop sound-shaper
Clams Casino
. The title track nods to folk-rock's popularity with its brisk acoustic guitars and strings; "Riot" feels like a kissing cousin to
OneRepublic
's anthemic sound; and "Love You Crazy" and "U" deliver slightly different variations on lush, slick R&B-tinged pop. While
's second half isn't quite as hooky, songs like "Burning Doves" and "Loner" are standouts that give
a signature sound. ~ Heather Phares