Blackmagic

When 's imprint released American vocalist and composer ' debut album , the effect in club culture and throughout the jazz communities in New York, Japan, and Europe was immediate. selected it as one of its albums of the year in 2008. ' voice echoed the social consciousness of , the hipness of , the sophistication of , and the soulfulness of , whether he was improvising over a piano trio playing , or singing his own lyrics over electronic beats. On , forges deeper into 21st century soul and experimental territory, without giving up his jazz chops. Enlisting and a number of other producers, this is a late-night, groove record that allows hip-hop, club jazz, and lithe funk to accent -- rather than drive -- his smooth, sultry baritone. His approach, while more innovative this time out, feels no less organic. The set kicks off with produced by . A Rhodes piano, congas, languid bassline, the sounds of scratchy vinyl, backing vocals, and ambient sounds underscore ' vocal; phrasing only a few words at a time as hip hop beats and skittering loops permeate his lines. Likewise, the ethereal title track shivers with sensual invitation via a mercurial groove created by Flying Lotus with guitars, elegantly caressed snares, and answering his more declamatory sung lines with crooning improvisations. is a neo-soul babymaker, with a handclap a la as the basis for its pulse. ' airy delivery is the melodic instrument as horns, Rhodes, bass, and drums fill the space dimensionally. is an uptempo groover using dubstep rhythm as its ground before kit drum breaks, basses, and the woven textures of acoustic and electric pianos push from underneath; chants/sings in call and response with himself. is a telltale production. It's an utterly seductive soul-by-cut-groove ballad, with a funky shimmering bassline, dreamy backing vocals, and wistful keys; ' vocal hovers above this mix. The grain in his voice beckons the listener to pleasures unnamed but unmistakable. As a whole, is skillfully sequenced and intelligently arranged to avoid neo-soul or jazz cliches -- there isn't a hint of artifice on it. This is 21st century jazzed-out soul at its best; and in the spirit of both traditions, it creates something new from traces of the familiar. ~ Thom Jurek