Kelela - Take Me Apart

Kelela
Take Me Apart
2017
Spotify

In a recent interview Frank Ocean voiced his concerns about every black musician being automatically characterized as an "R&B singer". He also mentioned Kelela who suffers the same fate despite the fact that her music is always miles away from what we would classify as "R&B". Her sound is far more experimental, electronically based and in a word different. She has found this vein where she takes what could be considered club tracks and elevates them intellectually to the point where they transcend both genres. She has something to say but isn't afraid to get your head nodding while she does it. Take Me Apart is her first proper studio album with EPs and Mixtapes under her belt like Cut 4 Me and Hallucinogen. At first glance this album seems like well worn territory; sultry soul singing paired with big electronics and heavy bass, yet this is so different in the results. She has the ability to sing hook ready 90s R&B inspired tracks but refuses to stop there and pushes the envelope track after track. You can hear where the classics inspire this music, like the best of Motown, but Kelela is willing to go so much further, like on the title track where her breathy singing descends into this mix/mash of full wormy songs. She is able to create this wall of sound that just overtakes you, and she never shies away from doing something interesting just because it is not part of the ordinary.

On tracks like "Enough" she goes full experimental with haunting distant vocals and pounding percussion that only drops to allow her to sing acapella. Having worked with producers like Arca in the past she is sure to picked up some of their wild freedom and it translates on to Take Me Apart. The album is about love, but not in the normal sense: Kelela wants you to "take me apart" before you fall in love. She wants every piece to be explored and desired, a sentiment that transfers to a club where people are all hopped up and trying to get down, but it also works on a more personal level, connecting wholly with one person. On "Better" she gets so incredibly personal singing a story that sounds so vividly true yet you are still able to see yourself in her words. Songwriting this good coupled with music this diverse and rich simply cannot fail. "LMK" has the potential to be too goofy with its cracking beer can sound and a really different beat, but even with the deck stacked against her Kelela pulls it around. Take Me Apart is a super great record and one showing the constant evolution of music. Do not miss this one.

9.0 out of 10