Kelela - Raven

Kelela is operating in a space all her own. Her first two releases, Cut 4 Me and Hallucinogen established a definite druggy but danceable vibe that mixed and stirred together in a way that created just the right blend of good-feel and carefree-nihilism. Tracks like ‘Floor Show’ and ‘Hallucinogen’ (the title track of the second EP in case you didn't figure it out already) the energy not only called you to dance but seduced you into a world that was both entrancing and alienating. In 2017 we got her first full length album with Take Me Apart, which was a little too alienating and not entrancing enough for me at the time, though I am fairly confident that's a ‘me’ problem and not at all reflected in the actual quality of the album.

It's now 2023 and after many years of silence we finally have the follow up with Raven and once again I'm reminded how sometimes taking the right amount of time between albums is a choice that often pays off. Raven is bigger, the loopy alien dance that I loved from the EPs is back, and Kelela’s voice is just as strong and sensual as ever.

During the first half of the album the more dancefloor heavy tracks dominate with standouts like the woozy ‘Happy Ending’ with its steady drums and droning electronica, and the hyper-sexy groove of the first single ‘On The Run.’

You get around enough, too busy actin' tough

I'ma lay you down, come get me right now

I shouldn't have to try, not gonna read your mind

Give me a softer side, I won't wait all night

If you come my way, I'ma want that fire

But you're on the run, I don't wanna have a conversation

I don't wanna wait but you know I'm all the way down

When you come my way, I'ma want that fire

While those tracks are my early favorites I also really enjoyed the snappy rhythm of ‘Contact’ with it's echoing harmonies and the soft keys and bopping bass of ‘Let It Go.’ If the groove really is in the heart then this albums heart is in the first half.

We're together now

It's just a stormy cloud

Just nowhere bound

Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go already

Together now (tell me what you're going through)

Just a stormy cloud (I can see it's almost done)

We're nowhere bound

Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go

Where does that leave the soul of the album? As you might have guessed it's in the slower and more meditative second half. Tracks like ‘Fooley’ with its dystopian synths and floating vocals dipping in and out of consciousness give us a mood not unlike the bulk of Take Me Apart, but here it doesn't get as dense as that release felt at times. We also have the spacey and cavernous ‘Holier’ leading into the hypnotic and sweeping one-two punch of the title track ‘Raven’ and the driving desperation of ‘Bruises.’ With the heavier beats gently resting in the softer moments of the second half we get the sense of the sorrow after the gtoove of the first half.

You wait for the encore

Wait 'til it breaks, wait for something to change

I can't relate, boy

But I changed my fate and my girl did the same

And we came to destroy

Your feelings are next but it's sad 'cause you're late

You're not gonna take more, ohh

Find another way (another way)

Find another way (another way, way)

Oh, step it up a little, baby

Oh, step it up a little for me, baby

After years and years of radio silence, Kelela has released another meaty selection of tracks to keep us dancing and vibing out as the stars circle overhead. Raven is a very strong album; the right mood at the right time. It reminded me of everything that drew me to Kelela in the beginning and I'm happy it’s given me a reason to go back and give her first album another visit, knowing I probably wasn't ready for it when it originally released.

(Side Note: Next Month I'll be switching to a Monthly Newsletter. I plan to cover mostly the same volume of things; a Playlist, new music, a musician spotlight or interesting musical subject. I'm just going to try in a big monthly collection at the end of the month instead! This is all with the idea that I'm going to start a more narrative focused newsletter to partner with this one in the near future. Hope you'll stick around!)