Through the Wall

After she turned in her most acclaimed and commercially successful album, Play with the Changes, Rochelle Jordan saw her decade-old slow jam "Lowkey" go viral enough to become her most popular song in a flash. Through the Wall leads with a brisk garage-house track that could be heard as a response, at once a proper hello to new listeners and a celebration of those who were in the know. Intoning with casual precision, Jordan shouts out longtime chief collaborator KLSH and declares "Bitch, I been around" before a switch in beat that precedes the agile singer proclaiming "Got the whole world screamin La-di-da-di." Slick Rick might scratch his head at the assertion -- and Crystal Waters could say that she got that result with "La-da-di, la-da-da" -- but Jordan is persuasive enough. That high level of conviction and vocal dexterity are in effect from front to back on Through the Wall, a set that is, for the most part, more uptempo and house-oriented than Jordans preceding LPs. Nothing is simply a banger, a vibe, or a mood, however, as Jordan continues to put as much into her verses as she does her hooks. These are fully developed songs, not one of which is reliant upon a groove. No matter the producer or production team -- Machinedrum, Byron the Aquarius, Jimmy Edgar, and several others contribute -- they keep on moving. Much of the album evokes the spirit of 90s house music, meaning the whole decade, from the Terry Hunter-produced "Crave," where the forms roots in soul, disco, and Chicago ring clear, to the hyperkinetic speed garage energy supplied by MPH on "Close 2 Me." There are some unexpected twists, such as the dub techno undercurrents in the intimate "Im Your Muse." Slower numbers are also among the high points. The richest one is "Sweet Sensation," a charismatic midtempo strut boasting some of Dām-Funks toughest low-end frequencies. "Get It Off" is pure early-2000s Neptunes, something like a fully empowered sequel to Kelis "Protect My Heart": "I get you feelin like whoa, then I cut and go." Somewhere in the middle energy-wise is "The Boy," a smacking, slipping, and sliding collaboration with Kaytranada that surpasses Jordans previous tracks made with the producer. Jordan finds herself conflicted, tempted by an ex, but even in this scenario, on the brink of acting on impulse, theres no doubt that shed be the one to pull the strings. ~ Andy Kellman

ブリティシュ・カナディアンのディーヴァが4年ぶりに放つ新作。盟友KLSHやバイロン・ジ・アクエリアス、マシーンドラム、ケイトラナダ、テリー・ハンター、日本のInitial Talkらと組んだ今作はハウスを軸に、デイム・ファンクとの80s R&B風やハムディとのUKガラージ路線も交えつつ妖艶な歌声でクールに滑走していく。深夜を彩る魅惑のダンス・ミュージック集だ。
bounce (C)林剛