A soundscape so diverse

Saurabh & Gaurav

He raises the bar for himself, and how!
Jon Hopkins — Singularity (Domino)

Jon Hopkins is a true pioneer in the realm of intelligent dance music. He blurs the lines between nature and technology in his abstract fifth outing, Singularity. The album opens with the slow and continually rising title track, which prepares you for discovering dreamy ambient soundscapes. Jon Hopkins explores the territory between futuristic sound and beat-laden dance music with brilliance. The flow throughout the album shifts from arranged electronica, similar to his 2013 album, Immunity, towards a melodic and brighter path that brings to the listener a peaceful state of mind. Created by his understanding of meditation and dreams, the album flows flawlessly from jagged techno to uplifting harmonic music, from solo piano to psychedelic ambient. Echo Dissolve is a stunning piano arrangement, a homage to Hopkins’ initial training as a classical pianist. He continues on this thought throughout the rest of the album with sublime piano on Luminous Beings and subtle drums that gives it the dreamy danceable quality. Neon Pattern Drum is a dull whine that grows into a hysterical ensemble of raw beats and drums, making you feel like you’re on an infinite dance floor, while Everything Connected creates an atmospheric melody that appears to be beamed from another planet. The album shines on the quieter moments as well. Feel First Life is a truly emotional piano piece with layers of echo and humming sounds in the setting. Singularity is an ingenious piece of work from an artiste who has just discovered that his creativity knows no boundaries.

Essential track: Echo Dissolve, Everything Connected, Singularity, Luminous Beings

Rating ***

Top 10 Singles

1. Nice for What Drake (CU)

2. This is America Childish Gambino (FD)

3. God's Plan Drake (NM)

4. Psycho Post Malone feat. Ty Dolla $ign (CU)

5. The Middle Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey (CU)

6. Meant To Be Bebe Rexha & The Florida Georgia Line (FD) 

7. Boo’d Up Ella Mine (CU)

8. Fake Love BTS (NE)

9. Friends Marshmellow & Anne-Marie (NM) 

10. Be Careful Cardi B (CU)

Legend: CU): Climbing Up    (FD): Falling Down    (NM): Non-mover  (NE): New Entry 

Sumptuous melodies
Beach House — 7 (Sub Pop)

Following no formula
Janelle Monáe — Dirty Computer (Bad Boy)

Janelle Monáe is a multi-talented woman whose third album Dirty Computer is mesmerisingly brutal, melodic, delicate and nostalgic, all at the same time. The collection is warm and effective from front to back. Pharrell-featuring track I Got That Juice is a brilliant track with a reggae mood. Consisting of 14 tracks, the album begins with the title track, featuring Beach Boys legend, Brian Wilson and Janelle Monáe balancing over a short psychedelic track where they sing about human nature, philosophy and corruption. Monáe identifies herself as the dirty computer, ridden with viruses, as she sings “I'm broke inside, crashing slowly, the bugs are in me.” Crazy, Classic Life is a diptych track that first captures the liberty of being young and free but in a quick turn, Monáe raps growling about crime and racism. “The same mistake, I'm in jail, you're on top of sh*t. Tech kid, bad techno, you a college kid,” she raps in a gospel choir setting. Don't Judge Me is penned for a lover, rather than the outside world, as she opens her heart: “Do you love me or my disguise? If I kissed you, would you think I was lonely?” The closing track, Americans, offers a sardonic view of the American culture: “I like my woman in the kitchen/ I teach my children superstitions/ I keep my two guns on my blue nightstand/ A pretty young thang.” The result is the most effective pop record of the year, one that is fresh, audacious, and utterly infectious.

Essential track: Crazy, Classic Life, Don't Judge Me, Americans, PYNK

Rating **

Crazy experiment, spectacular result
Cardi B — Invasion of Privacy (Atlantic)

Rapper Cardi B’s debut single Bodak Yellow has already topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and earned her Grammy nominations for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song. Invasion of Privacy is fiercely fast-paced and outspoken. Cardi bluntly narrates her story in a totally unrestricted way on the album, telling us about her choices both good and bad, and lays exposed her defects, limitations and verve. Her collaboration on I Do with SZA, Murda Beatz and the German production duo CuBeatz offers the most bizarre track here, not only for the varied combination of collaborators but for the most entrancing lyrics. Featuring South American rappers J Galvin and Bad Bunny, I Like It is the closest Cardi gets to the pop category. The New York-centric track is a homeland love letter narration, supported by reggae rhythm, as she raps: “They call me Cardi Bardi, banging body/ Hotter than Somali/ Fur coat/ Ferrari.” In Thru Your Phone, Cardi displays her hidden talent of signing on the chorus; here she describes a troubled relationship. Be Careful is a slow tempo jam shaped around an outburst of Lauryn Hill’s Ex-Factor: “You even got me trippin’, you got me lookin’ in the mirror different/ Thinkin’ I’m flawed because you inconsistent.” With Invasion of Privacy, Cardi drives past the challenge of a highly anticipated album with ease, by making one of the most exciting rap albums in years.

Essential track: Bodak Yellow, Be Careful, Best Life, I Do

Rating ***