Humanise

HAAis music is always uplifting and euphoric, but the title of her second album, HUMANiSE, seems appropriate for something that seems a little more down-to-earth than her previous releases. There are far more vocals and fewer banging kick drums on this record, and its closer to art-pop than straightforward club music. HAAis own voice takes center stage, joined by two choirs and several guests, and the lyrics are generally hopeful and encouraging, even as they acknowledge lifes struggles. Past collaborators Jon Hopkins and Obi Franky return for opener "Satellite," which begins with Burial-like crackling ambiance before HAAi assures her presence as the beats gradually heat up. "All That Falls Apart/Comes Together" builds up a patient rhythm with a truth-seeking poetic verse by James Massiah. "Cant Stand to Lose," the albums most obvious single, sports a big, dramatic chorus, but the rest of the tracks tend to have more progressive song structures. "Shapeshift" switches gears from an introspective ballad to a dancefloor heat, segueing from a rap verse by KAM-BU to chugging breaks. The title track has a relatively calm tempo, but the tense space is filled with busy stop-start beats and glitched vocals. "Hey!" is a much more propulsive, racing techno track, while theres more of a dubstep bounce to the fragmented, uncertain "Rushing." "New Euphoria," with Hot Chips Alexis Taylor, features heavenly vocals by the Trans Voices choir, then works its way up to another pounding dance beat. Lastly, Kaiden Ford provides an intimate spoken passage for the ambient comedown "HQ." HUMANiSE marks HAAis shift towards more personal material, searching for unity in more ways than just a communal dancefloor experience. ~ Paul Simpson