Raven

Gorgeous electronic R&B, from highly-acclaimed Ethiopian-American artist Kelela. This second studio album largely explores romance, heartbreak, and her experiences of loneliness/isolation as a queer black woman working in electronic music. Songwriting is excellent, vocals are amazing, and she collaborates with producers LSDXOXO, Yo van Lenz, and Kaytranada to infuse her signature R&B sound with breakbeat and ambient elements.

FCC: 6, 12
RIYL: Kilo Kish, Empress Of, Liv.e, ABRA, Tei Shi, FKA Twigs
TRY: 4, 14, 8, 9, 13

1. Bleary early-morning chill beat with soaring vocals
2. Emotional vocals with a peppy breakbeat and a bit of bass
3. Slow and hazy with muffled piano
*4. Yearning love song with standout percussion from Kaytranada. Effortless and silky, truly one of her best
5. Upbeat breakbeat with plucked acoustic guitars
6. (FCC) Slow, sultry, finger-snapping with a massive bassline
7. 2AM party vibe with a mellow breakbeat
*8. Futuristic, echoey. Moves through several ambient movements before it reaches the chorus
*9. Minimal but very powerful with vocals at the forefront (She almost says an FCC in this track, but self-censors)
10. Haunting with an epic crescendo that opens into a UK garage beat. Nice minimal piano elements
11. Spacious, melancholic, dubstep influence
12. (FCC) Layered vocals, rattling percussion and a bit of electronic twinkle
*13. Slow heartbreak confessional. Sparse electronica with lush strings. Cowritten with Shygirl
*14. Lead single, future R&B love ballad. Really great beat with nicely isolated percussion
15. Slow washed-out outro