The Pop Corporation

There’s been a helluva lot of dreamy, pastel-hued music released over the last decade, perhaps in direction opposition to the spiky turmoil of the broader world at large… or perhaps it’s the resurgence of psychedelic drugs? Either way, it’s easy to get vibe-fatigue and wish someone would write a chorus.

While we’ve found ourselves wanting when listening to Lana Del Rey at one end of the spectrum, and hoping for a bit more focus from a number of neo-psychedelic groups, Kali Uchis has found herself between both of these lanes, making a kaleidoscopic version of alt R&B which is infused with gorgeous ’60s pop, old jazz greats and Colombian music.

On ‘Sincerely’, she’s at it again making tuneful, sophisticated music that emerges and blossoms from the speakers, rather than erupts – and it’s wonderful to bathe in without ever being boring.

You have to marvel at just how consistent Uchis has been over the past few years, switching from universal, daydream pop to Spanish spoken cuts – but here, she’s made one of her best, delving ever deeper into the rich seams of her musical influences and her own sound.

Of course, there’s heartache aplenty in there, but Kali is wittier than simply moping around. There’s a knowingness to her that has broken hearts sounding more like longing, old-time Hollywood movies, rather than sheer bad luck. Sonically, the strings and synths swoon around her vocal phrasing, while her voice itself has never sounded so confident in its abilities, hitting angelic falsettos in the likes of ‘Silk Lingerie’.

On ‘For You’, she’s paired up with neo-jazz chug, and increases the tempo of the Nu Jazz inflected ‘Fall Apart’. By the time you get to ‘Daggers!’, Kali’s vocals are dancing through lush harmonies and a neo-soul groove that’s incredibly seductive.

Listening to this, it seems remarkable that Kali hasn’t been afforded some of the platforms we’ve seen SZA reaching. The cinema of this LP is worth repeated listens and the sugary sweet production is always pared with just enough bite and edge to make for a truly compelling listen.

Lead single ‘Sunshine & Rain’ is already one of the finest tracks released this year, complete with it’s Isley Brothers electric psych sitar and it makes way for album closer ‘ILYSMIH’ which feels so ethereal and so grand that you might convince yourself that you’re floating above the ground for the duration of the listening process.

While Uchis’ career has been big, you can’t help but feel that she’s still something of an underdog who deserves so much more. This album will no doubt keep her fans happy, but given the chance, this should win over a lot more, all things being fair.

There’s artists out there who demand your attention a lot more with considerably lesser talent and songs. Kali Uchis’ quiet assuredness and sumptuous sonic universe gently invites you in, and once you’re there, it’s hard to think of anyone else who does things the way she does.

‘Sincerely’ is a brilliant, brilliant album.