Tuesday 30 July 2013

Sampha - 'Dual' EP review


Yesterday saw the release of the eagerly awaited Sampha EP, Dual. Londoner Sampha’s managed to develop a name for himself through his recent work with artists like SBTRKT and Jessie Ware, with whom he made one of my favourite tracks of the last few years, Valentine.

In the melancholic EP’s second track, ‘Beneath the Tree,’ Sampha reminds us ‘There’s a monster inside us all,’ but Sampha's chilled out vibes seem pretty comfortable with this, and the lonely atmosphere in this track contrasts with the decadence often shown in other current male RnB such as that of The Weeknd and Jeremih.  It sets up perfectly dark, British tone we hear throughout the rest of the EP.

‘Without’ shows off Sampha’s ability to move from falsetto to a softer, more natural tone, with the changing in pitch adding to the wistful tone, particularly when Sampha opens a verse with a high pitched ‘I’m far from perfect,’ he seems to accept and yet resent his insecurities. 

'Indecision' again is a gloomy track, but unlike earlier tracks brings a sense of comfort in it's sadness. It's repeated pianos try and give even the most cynical of us a reminder that we can't hold on and  worry about making the wrong decisions, but instead we should just 'Let it all work out.'
Dual brings us more of Sampha’s haunting, mellow vocals and sombre production that any Londoner will find reminds them of home on a rainy night, and the title of the final track ‘Can’t get Close’ sums up Dual perfectly – it draws us in close, but not so close that we don't want to hear any more. 


8/10

Released 29th July 2013

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