Spiritual Sleaze

Yuvi Havkins second Stones Throw full-length maintains the dreamy feel of his previous releases, but it seems far more focused, even as the producers scope has clearly expanded. He titled it Spiritual Sleaze as the album is highly informed by his yoga and meditation practices, yet its dirty and bouncy compared to his past work. While theres nothing ribald about the release, the grooves are considerably firmer this time around, and it doesnt always feel like the tracks could just slip away or dissolve at any moment. While Rejoicers music always resists categorization, encompassing jazz, funk, ambient, and psychedelia, Spiritual Sleaze feels closer to R&B than hip-hop, particularly due to the presence of guest vocalists on several tracks. KerenDuns gentle flow complements the bubbly thump of Song for the Spirit Flights and the calmly surreal My Beans, while iogis morning reflections on Up in Flames sound like Toro y Moi delving into the world of library music. The standout is Lemons, a slick, clap-heavy beat with bold, questioning vocals by Jenny Penkin. She also confronts mortality on the sublime Earth Talk, which features trippy bass work by Sam Wilkes. Third Eye Jungle Run is the records most up-tempo track, with a light, steady beat caressed by smooth guitars and cascading violins. Spiritual Sleaze is never a demanding listen, but its far more thought-provoking than most music thats this easy to chill out to. Its also a significant step up for Rejoicer, and its his most inspired, accomplished work thus far. ~ Paul Simpson