dual*

To be fair, EP is used pretty liberally here. There are 6 songs, 2 of which are intros for other songs and 2 others of which don't have lyrics, but I guess there's really no name for that. Think of it like a 2 bed, 1 full, 2 half bath apartment with a nice living room. Or a loft. 

The modestly furnished, sunlit, countryside Dual is a breath of fresh acoustic air from the monotony of EDM inspired R&B that's topped the radio as of late. If you don't know who Sampha is as an independent artist, that's because most of this UK native's earlier music came in the form of features. A regular guest on SBTRKT albums and more recently a smash on Drake's Too Much, Sampha has the voice of the angel Gabriel (probably) and a creative prowess on the digital ivories comparable to classic pianists. To quote the person who said this, "Sampha's a fool on those gospel chords." Amen. The majority of instrumentation is provided by either pure vocal layering or (a version of) the piano, yet the choice to stay understated never feels lacking. 

Similar to James Blake, I'm not exactly sure what it is that he's saying most of the time. It's not that the lyrics are substanceless, just vague; you can make some assumptions as to what he's referring but not with any certainty that's worthy of review. The meaning of the title of the album is also a mystery to me; again, I could guess, but I won't. The important thing to pay attention to is the music. 

This EP is an easy listen. Stay with me for a sec. I've changed my tune a little bit recently about what makes music good. I've always appreciated simplicity, so it wasn't that I was turned off by a lack of elements, but I always felt any song's sound had to have a newness to really be valuable. Now I find the most important aspect for me is intentionality. You can play the heck out of a drum machine, but if 4 notes on the guitar resonate just the right way, I'm gonna sway towards that guitar. Another person once said, "this new music is just which sounds can get your attention the most". As I grow up, I find more satisfaction in 4 masterfully played notes. Okay I'm back. This EP is an easy listen. It's complex but not complicated, and never oversteps its bounds as a man playing instruments and singing, and when you can sing and play like Sampha, that's really all you need. 

Overall, the airy production and vague lyrics make it appropriate background music for any peaceful setting, and it won't take much time or effort to appreciate. So give it a listen if you're on a short drive, studying, or are just in the mood for something refreshing; it'll certainly be worth it. 

Rating: 8

Favorite song: Indecision