Au＜限定盤/Gold Vinyl＞

ヒューストン出身のR&Bアーティスト/シンガー、Peyton(ペイトン)がニューアルバム『Au』で帰還。
本作は"誠実さ"と"心のセルフケア"をテーマにした、深い感情のルーツを持つ作品となっている。
『Au』では、裏切りや混乱、失望といった感情を乗り越えながらも、Peytonは決して喜びを見失わない。
タイトルの"Au"は金の化学記号を意味し、「輝きを失わせようとする世界の中でも、自分らしい輝きを保ち続ける」という決意を象徴している。
たとえ楽な道を選ぶ方が容易に思えても、常に高潔な道を歩むというメッセージが込められている。
アルバムは、Bilal、Free Nationals、Robert Glasper、Erykah Baduらを手掛けてきた敏腕プロデューサー Shafiq Husayn (Sa-RA Creative Partners)との緊密なコラボレーションによって制作。
Brian Alexander Morgan、Didda Joe、Sunni Colonらのゲスト参加に加え、Om'Mas Keith(Frank Ocean、John Legend、Jay-Z)の共同プロデュースと演奏もフィーチャーしている。

One of several enlivening featured appearances Peyton made between her first and second albums was on So Gold by Shafiq Husayn, a revered musician and producer whose deep discography includes work on landmark albums from Ice-T, Common, Erykah Badu, Bilal, and Robert Glasper. Peyton not only teams with Husayn as producer of the follow-up to PSA, she also continues the use of gold as a metaphor for how to view and conduct herself in the navigation of life. Titled after the chemical symbol for the precious metal, Au sees a sanguine Peyton neither embittered nor vengeful in response to disappointment, deception, anguish, and soul-corroding forms of negativity. The constant presence of Husayn, who is joined by highly decorated Sa-Ra partner OmMas Keith as co-producer and fellow instrumentalist, lends a cohesion PSA didnt achieve due to its dozen-plus corps of producers. Au is decidedly funkier, chock-full of creatively programmed and played drums, snapping basslines, cosmic synthesizers and electric pianos, and spangled rhythm guitar. (There are some strings and brass, too.) At the same time, it connects more with Peytons gospel upbringing, most evident in "I Cant Stay Away," a stomping highlight with burning guitar and vocals from Didda Joe, a background chorus featuring Jimetta Rose, and spoken elucidation from Husayn. It doesnt hurt that Peytons voice has become richer as her Syreeta/Sy Smith-like sweetness remains in effect. Some of the standouts float and bounce. Take "Eye Love," where a mystified Peyton discovers her role in a love triangle (with a fine hook graced by SWV hitmaker Brian Alexander Morgan), or the more humorous "Red Flags," a blithe reaction to a former friends obsessive behavior. The album isnt strictly about dealing with heartache and duplicity, not when expressions of devotion, desire, and self-positivity are so clear in additional highlights like "Genesis," "Fly High," and "Get Out of Your Hair." Restorative energy flows from start to finish. ~ Andy Kellman