Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino has dropped a new album this month, and fans of his earlier works expecting another rap album they may be disappointed. However listeners with an open mind will be pleasantly surprised to hear an album much less restricted by genre, featuring influences of soul, funk and pop. The singles have already shown signs of what was to come, both sonically and visually experimenting with new technology such as VR and other techniques to avoid conformity.
It is instantly clear that this release will have a particularly live feel, with the first few tracks leaning heavily towards classic 70’s soul arrangements. From the rich sounds of gospel choirs, to the northern-soul inspired energetic hand claps he manages to modernise some very traditional methods. Me and Your Mama, Have Some Love, and Boogie Man each reference classic 70’s tracks such as Hand Clapping Song by The Metres without losing any originality. This choice of direction will certainly resonate with Fan’s of Mos Def, and Gorillaz, each act appear to know their history without being stuck in the past.
Awaken, My Love! is the third studio album from Childish Gambino
Zombies however sounds like a step towards the present, its slinky Moog sounding synth lead dances atop an atmospheric background full of whispered backing vocals and psychedelic sound effects. Childish Gambino’s vocals suit this one well, it is a little slower than the majority of what we have heard so far and is reminiscent of early Outkast material. This slower pace doesn’t last long however, when the aptly named Riot comes crashing in with a much fuller arrangement as well as some harsher vocals.
Contrasting nicely, Redbone still features some strained singing but is a much classier affair, stunning harmonies from the layered voices suit the laid-back slap bass and slower beat brilliantly. It is clear why this one was released as a single, it holds its own against some of R&B’s greats such as Erykah Badu and is a thoroughly enjoyable listen. California is next up and is an awkward transition of strange vocal delivery and much weaker production, the beautiful Isley Brothers inspired Terrified that follows is a true delight however. The thick and dirty guitar licks, soft organs and reverberating vocals are a perfect addition to another one of the album’s highlights.
The rest of the album features many of the same themes, executed well from the production to the writing and vocal performance, Glover really seems at home with this new style. The outro track Stand Tall includes some new sounds in the form of a distant jazz flute, as it echoes away Childish Gambino sings through a vocoder in a Daft Punk style but somehow these opposites seem to attract and the result is mesmerizing.
Another impressive album from a very busy man, this release ticks all the boxes for a modern and experimental release while respecting traditional genres. There are definitely more moments of genius than there are dips in quality, for a project that broke so many rules he has managed to stick to his guns and the overall outcome is magical. To hear it for yourself why not come down to your local Richer Sounds for a demo today?
