Renaissance

About

Many fans first met Aluna through AlunaGeorge, the London electronic duo she formed with George Reid. On <i>Renaissance</i>, the singer-songwriter and producer strikes out on her own with a collection of brightly hued electro-pop that bewitches as it evolves. From the outset, the album is nothing but bottled ecstasy. “I've Been Starting to Love All the Things I Hate,” the opening track, is a triumphant blast of optimism in the face of adversity: “Throw it all out, it's a new day/Doesn't matter if you can't, do it anyway,” she urges in a honeyed voice. Thematically, many of the songs hinge on the ups and downs of romance, but it never feels like anything less than joy. What's most captivating about <i>Renaissance</i>, though, is the range Aluna displays across the album: She's nimble, as she inhabits just the right tone for whatever style of production lies before her. Whether nestled in the pulsating bass of splashy dance pop (“Warrior,” “Envious,” “Body Pump”), simmering trap-R&B (“Off Guard”), or the intoxicating diasporic sounds of dancehall (“Get Paid”), reggae (“Surrender”), and Afropop (“The Recipe,” “Pressure”), she injects her own soulful magic to charming effect, a gift that keeps on giving.

via Apple Music

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