Play With The Changes

Rochelle Jordan debuted in 2011 and by 2014 seemed poised to be known by more than seekers of progressive electronic R&B. The singers discography was blooming. She was referenced by fellow Torontonian Drake (Club Paradise), sampled by Special Request (Soundboy Killer), and recruited by Childish Gambino (Telegraph Ave.), and she had opened for Jessie Ware in the States. Thwarted for years by an ensuing label and management deal that proved to be grossly restrictive, she bounces back on TOKiMONSTAs Young Art label with Play with the Changes, an album with greater vocal, lyrical, and sonic range than her previous releases. Jordan continues to team with producer KLSH, who has been with her from the start, and she is also aided by Machinedrum and Jimmy Edgar, dancefloor adventurers who have benefitted from her economical writing and flexible voice in assorted settings, both separately and as the duo JETS, for several years. Play with the Changes dives into assorted strains of dance music rooted in the U.K. soul and acid house scenes of the late 80s and early 90s. London-born Jordan was raised in part by the records played by her older brother, and that inspiration manifests in an R&B-rooted set that glows with elements of atmospheric house, spangly garage, and racing drumnbass, heard most vividly on beguiling tracks like All Along, Got Em, and Already (the latter containing a rapped verse tougher than anything Jordan has done before). Theres also a gorgeous ballad evoking Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, and Timbaland, and a couple grade-A modern slow jams. Best is the slithering Count It, all sensual threat with demands like Put the band on this cash and Count it all again. Its just as enthralling -- and empowered -- as any of the club tracks. ~ Andy Kellman

ジャマイカ移民の両親のもとロンドンで生まれ、現在は地元トロントで活動するシンガー。トキモンスタ主宰のレーベルと契約して放つ7年ぶりの新作は、90年代のUKレイヴ・カルチャーに着想を得て〈超モダンなエレクトロニック・ダンス・ビーツ〉を謳ったアルバムに。10年前から組んでいたKLSHがマシーンドラムとメインで制作し、ドラムンベース、UKガラージ、ニュー・ジャック・スウィングなどを現代解釈した高速で鋭いビートにひとり多重コーラスを浮遊させながらクールな歌声で斬り込んでいく楽曲はめっぽうソウルフルだ。ジミー・エドガー制作のトラップ調や気鋭MCのファラ・フォウクス参加曲など、アリーヤとも比較される妖艶な声を活かしたスロウも快演で、音楽そのものに没入させてくれる。
bounce (C)林 剛