Review Summary: "I just wanna stay in the moonlight. This is our time in the spotlight"
This is just one of those instances where I find it incredibly difficult to communicate my love for the countless awesome moments contained within this record.
If Sputnik included the option of uploading audio-recordings, this review would, without a doubt, merely amount to a collection of my own terribly conveyed verbal renditions of these synth-hooks and vocal passages, followed by the typical “Damn, that part is just so frickin good u know?”. But for the sake of propriety (and for the sake of your, as of yet, unviolated sense of hearing), I will attempt to articulate myself within the lacking confines of the written format.
There has been no shortage of pop and 80’s throwback records in 2020 (and some great ones at that), but in this category, Jessie Ware’s “What’s Your Pleasure” convincingly takes the cake. This album is simply an absolute tour de force of disco revivalism. But make no mistake, this isn’t some shallow attempt at capitalizing on the current 80’s nostalgia trend, no these songs are made with passion and love for the era as Jessie perfectly captures the feel of old-school synth-pop, boogie, house, and funk across the tracklist. This makes for an incredibly immersive experience, as the listener is instantaneously transported to a foggy vintage night-club filled with flickering strobe-lights and sexual tension.
The production and instrumentation on display here are amazingly lavish and deliver countless unforgettable moments such as the extremely tight and funky grooves on “Ooh LaLa”, the short horn breaks that follow the hook on “Step Into My Life” or the addictive, jangly synth-intro on “Soul Control”(or really any synth moment on this record for that matter).
The banger ratio here is also completely off the charts, as the record consistently delivers track after track that demands you to keep dancing. The fact that every song seems fresh and exciting during this never-ending convener-belt of bangers is also a great testament to the songwriting that manages to deliver a wealth of ear-wormy hooks and refrains. Even the more low-key moments on here like the cinematic closer “Remember Where You Are” or the trance-like “In Your Eyes” are ridiculously great and really add a lot to the atmosphere of the record.
This album is simply an immaculate collection of irresistibly slick, funky, catchy, and powerful disco-songs that are danceable as hell. I mean what more could you possibly want?
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Attribution: https://www.albumoftheyear.org/user/malto64/album/218956-whats-your-pleasure/
