NAO - For All We Know

Nao
For All We Know
2016
Spotify

Nao is one of those special R&B artists who are striving the be the vanguard of the music. Everyone can hear the change taking place in the genre, what is still a mystery is who is going to blow the thing wide open. DVSN has certainly made a play for the throne, but their skittishness makes super stardom unlikely. Then there is Nao. She is unassuming, effortless and incredibly interesting. The album is even set up in this really different way in that some songs are normal length while others may only be 30 seconds or so. It really keeps you off guard because things seem to come in and out without really any warning. It may be Nao's background in grime and electronic music that gives her the confidence to drop a 23 second track in what is essentially an R&B record. "Grilfriend" the first single off the record which was released last year felt incredibly new but since has given way a bit to more exciting things from others in the R&B world. That however does not take away from this record, which compared to the majority of the field really is miles ahead. Putting Nao in the same breath as acts like DVSN and Kaytranda is extremely high praise. Her vocals on this record are always just a bit off, but not in a bad way, in a very intentional way to make her sound different yet still quite pleasing.

There is also a real lack of straight up love songs on For All We Know. The usual tropes of R&B don't seem to be all that interesting to Nao, and that sense of exploration is quite welcome. "DYWM" (Do You Want Me)  is the most straight up song on the record lyrically, but it has this really great guitar rift that remains throughout really getting you deep in to it. The song is just off kilter enough to keep you around, but still mainstream enough that really anyone could enjoy it. It also has so many different layers that is almost progressive house-ish in the way it changes and contorts as the song continues to move. Almost the whole album focuses on taking it bigger with more electronic sounds and big production, but the closer "Feels Like (Perfume)" strips that away and gets real personal to wrap everything up. Nao's ability to float from total futurist into classic crooner without missing a beat only goes to show the powerful things she has in front of her. As a debut album you couldn't ask for a more in depth look at what Nao can actually do than For All We Know. She has all of her skills and her eclectic style on display and only leaves you wanting more. Do not miss this record.

8.1 out of 10