Dawn Richard - Redemption

Dawn Richard
Redemption
2016
Spotify

When you hear that a former member of Danity Kane has a new record out your ears likely dont perk up with interest. But while the world has not been watching Richard has released a trilogy of records wrapping up with the final installment Redemption. In the series we see Richard convert her emotional demons into literal ones spinning a story that was as out there as it was compelling. The series went from aggressive to depressing seeming to collaborate almost directly with Richard's mental state. The new record however shows Dawn Richard looking back at this journey and really putting a pin in what it means to her on a personal level. None of this music was made with much pop appeal, whether intentional or not, and where most artists would take theses clearly dance influenced tracks  and make some club bangers with them but Richard never does that. Instead she finds that dance beat heart and then experiments from there, which gives the production this very improvisational nature where in a club you wouldn't be quite sure how to dance to this music even though it feels like you absolutely should.

That is kind of the beautiful thing about this record, it never ever stops surprising you. "LA" which features Trombone Shorty is an almost rock slash funk song and Trombone's solo at the end is pure bliss. For production on most of the album Richard turned to Machinedrum which gives it this big bold sound and throws in the occasional glitch. But, this record seems much more like Richard's vision rather than Machinedrums with he being the medium for her. Richard seems to come to the end of this epic journey on "Valhala" where as she says "Rebels are the majority/and my color isn't a minority". It's a wonderful thought for the dreamer, yet she even seems unconvinced that this kind of outcome is possible. There are times that Redemption gets so very expansive that it almost leaves the listeners behind as it moves and grows. You have to hold on for dear life to avoid being lost. The third installment in many trilogies are often panned but with Redemption Dawn Richards has done something really quite special, do not miss this record.

8.3 out of 10