Theophilus London is back.
He just released his new album without bringing out singles as a warning, so naturally it hit me like an Eddie Stobart in the chest.
Like a more accesible Dean Blunt, Theophilus London is always on the edge of mainstream and never stops innovating with sound. Never forget he was the producer of Kanye West's Donda2 and he's collaborated with the indie likes of Tame Impala and Ariel Pink. His 2020 album Bebey is a no-skip LP and I am yet to find a better feelgood song than Cuba. The album also included a second collaboration with Kevin Parker which was an excellent cover version of classic disco boogie track Only You, originally released in 1984 by Nigerian artist Steve Monite.
The new album is called TL with proper G vibes and it is tragically a very short 39 minute work. Here is the preview.
It opens with Send It Down and a recognisable reverbed piano that we've heard before in Currents (2015) and once again in Bebey (2020). It also includes a series of autotuned harmonies sung by himself making it seem like there is a choir of Theophilus Londons in the background.
He ramps up the soul and the autotune in Not Yourself, following in the steps of Lil Yachty and his Let's Start Here. (2023). Both artists seem to drink from each other as their sounds swirl and mix. They have a couple of collaborations together that are as the young kids say, absolute fire. The second tune of London's album is a beautiful sunny thing.
Remember two paragraphs ago when I said I hadn't found something as feelgood as Cuba? Well the third track of the album is a strong contender. Awaken should be called Try Not To Dance And Fail. It is so groovy, it gets under your bones and forces you to sway to the bassline. It has a little Jungle to it, especially when the female backing vocals come into play. Insanely sexy.
Hi Baby brings the weirdness and the funk but keeps the sexy going. It is composed of a series of dirty sounds that carry around a bit of a James Brown attitude but transported to this day and age. We have the choir of Theophilus London back for this one and they are not asking us to join them on the dancefloor anymore, they've grabbed us by the arm and are pulling us there.
WUSA has a more relaxed energy and shows us the rapper side of the artist. We are enveloped by a happy piano that for some reason reminds me of the Hotline Bling instrumental. It was all going well until 8 minutes had passed and he was still going. I had to go back to Spotify to check if it had switched songs without me noticing but no. It is a 14 minute giant. I mean, it's good, I like it, but maybe not 14 minutes of it, especially since it is there are no ups and downs, it's quite linear.
It switches to a darker vibe all of a sudden, rapping in the wee hours of the night would be my description of it. Chakra has a very indigo blue atmosphere to it. One of my favourites if I'm honest and definitely one of those driving at night tracks to rap along to in a car.
Top 1 track of the album without a doubt is Heat Rock. The instrumental is captivating and so rich and warm that it's impossible not to enjoy. He spices it all up with his verses and brings the sexy back into the album big time. Theophilus London choir is also back but this time they do pseudo-reggae backing vocals that are just a joy to sing along to. It's one of those songs that I know will make the yearly list without even having finished it. Looping the crap out of this one for sure.
And here comes the important bit. The closer. It's all anybody is going to remember when they finish the album on their first listen. To The Stars takes a little while to kick off and once again he plays around with his voice. We have a distorted deep Theophilus, OG Theophilus, the choir of Theophilus, high-pitched Theophilus and just another sexy groovy bassline. It's the cocktail bar version of a BROCKHAMPTON song. So, therefore, the coolest ending an album can ask for.
One of the best albums of 2023 so far. It will be the death of me.
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