Eighties r’n'b has been re-appropriated to wonderful effect by Brooklyn-based indie-electro trio Lemonade on this, their sophomore album. While some of the synth-lines are obviously “cheese-y” the directions those lines are drawn in are tangental to anything remotely dairy – and therein lies their genius.
The subversion shines brightest in this album in it’s apparent surface-level sleek acceptability. It’s the juxtapositions are to be found in the evident introspection of these songs; versus the the apparent carefree-ness of the club dance-floor aesthetc that truly define this album as something much more than it might trick you into thinking it is.
Some handy reference points for some readers might be The Weeknd, Friendly Fires, Washed Out, Junior Boys, Toro Y Moi etc etc – but this record comes with some of the best / most subtle hooks I’ve heard in a while.
Track Picks
Neptune – the first single still totally kicks ass – a mid tempo burner with sweeping synths and a falsetto that’ll make you die and go to heaven where angels will this song to you.
Softkiss – another single; more clubby and upbeat in a late 80s groove kinda of way; those drum beats are seriously killer.
Big Changes – Inner City seemingly recalled with the sleek and clean Detroit-techno synths; something like processed tribal interpolations drive this track along.
Ice Water – Compelling and subtly driving
Vivid – Probably the darkest and moodiest track on the record – the beats skittle-skattle along in contrast underneath a beautifully dark-paced synth-line.
