Magical Thinking＜限定盤/Cream Vinyl＞

Faraoにとって3作目となるスタジオ・アルバム。オスロとベルリンでレコーディングされた本作は、90年代R&Bの気品、80年代ディスコの煌めき、そしてスピリチュアル・ジャズの内省的な広がりを脈打たせながら、Faraoの親密な歌声と緻密なアレンジに貫かれています。Pitchfork、The New York Times、Clash、The Line of Best Fitといったメディアに認められ、Roskilde、SXSW、Oya、Green Manといったフェスティバルでの出演歴も持つFarao。音楽家としてだけでなく、2人の子どもの母親という大きな変化によって新たに生まれ変わった存在として作り上げた作品。

As Farao, Kari Jahnsen has experimented with a range of electronic-acoustic palettes, setting her textured arrangements within indie folk, alt-pop, orchestral rock, glossier electronica settings, and combinations thereof. With her third album, Magical Thinking, she leans into an R&B-inflected alternative dance sensibility that falls on the sleeker extreme of her output thus far, although it should be noted that both she and producer Adne Meisfjord (120 Days) are credited with beats, synths, percussion, and, last but not least, zither. So, she hasnt left her blended, psychedelic-leaning approach behind. It also isnt entirely club-friendly. The album was recorded between Berlin and Oslo, Jahnsens former and re-adopted base, respectively. Speaking of zither and multifaceted soundscapes, none other than Laraaji is featured on the experimental standout track "Voice Continues," an early single that combines layered vocals, celestial zither, synths, and mallet percussion, all in a freeform structure that, within the context of the album, leads into the twinkling and atmospheric "Tschussi." They are two of several wind-down tracks that take the album off the dancefloor and into a more meditative state. First, though, Jahnsen starts off the album with the pulsing and seductive "Waiting for You," which is followed by tracks including "Spiritual Garden" (named for a Janet Jackson lyric) and "Full Moon" (a whimsical cover of the Brandy song from 2002). These reference points give some indication of the vibe Farao is tapping into here, as part of a sultry, dreamy dance outing with an off ramp that leads us through altered states to a narcotic final track called "Sleep It Off." ~ Marcy Donelson