Review Summary: Time piece
LAHAI, like time, is interstitial, comprised of loops and ripples and switch-ups stitched together that coalesce into a greater whole. Sampha is completely preoccupied by it; each song bleeds into the next to present a swirling and beatific interrogation of memory, time and perseverance. This works twofold, providing the experience an emotional and thematic backbone while also lending itself perfectly to the artist's impressionistic and patchwork brand of soul. While it can be a bit on the nose at times (with titles like Can't Go Back and Time Piece),
LAHAI is a meticulous and impressively whole album presenting an artist who has found his niche by marrying thematic significance to a sound that cleverly caters to it.
On a purely musical level, it's thrilling how many elements
LAHAI filters through Sampha's idiosyncratic style. His piano still features most prominently, such as on opener Stereo Colour Cloud, where it's modulated into a beautiful, and incredibly catchy, dance with rippling synths and clattering drums. It acts as anchor on the subtly eerie Satellite Business, surrounded by sci-fi synth burbles and disembodied vocalisations, grounding the alienesque interlude. On closer Rose Tint it's an accent under a layer of heartbeat thumps and delirious off-kilter keyboards. Suspended features it everywhere in so many ways it's like Sampha doing a Bubba Gump spiel for his instrument of choice: gorgeous choral melodies, complimentary jabs of jumping keys, and rapid arpeggios buttressing jazzy percussion.
Throughout, Sampha gives a gorgeous and nimble vocal performance, flitting from singing to rapping and back again with dexterity and ease. Whether it's the improved rap flow he shows off on Satellite Business or the mesmerizing Suspended flanked on all sides by wavering falsetto and staccato vocalizing, it seems he keeps finding ingenious ways of improving and utilizing his singularly reedy and aching voice. Each moment feels carefully considered and earned, ending with the artist cutting through the fog to arrive at a moment of perfect clarity and gratefulness:
'
Smilin' in the face of the adversities that we take on, my fuel for the camera, everybody gather around, gonna take this picture now, everybody speakin' loud, everybody in one house'.
