Last Friday, 3rd June 2016, singer Jordan Rakei released his debut album titled Cloak. Signed to the record label Soul Has No Tempo, Rakei fuses a mix of sounds into his music ranging from genres such as soul, jazz, reggae and more. Born in Brisbane and now living in London, Rakei has been collaborating with a range of British musicians such as, Disclosure, Tom Misch, Barney Artist, Richard Spaven and more.
Cloak is a 13 track project and is different from his previous Ep’s in that it is a greater body of work, and encompasses a wider variation of sounds. It is definitely an experimental project. His previous Ep’s were known to have led with a soul/reggae vibe, whereas this new project is more jazzy/funky/alternative, although there are still traces of his soulful roots.
The first track on the album, Midnight Mischief, begins with a mix of abstract sounds and forms an ethereal atmosphere. Soon after this intro, Rakei’s soothing vocals enter the track, followed by a subtle clapping cadence. The track then displays a funky beat, inviting listeners to head bop along, giving a sense of what to expect for the rest of the album.
Blame It On the Youth is one of the more upbeat songs. The honest lyrics denote Jordan’s passionate views about the young people of this generation and the music is a creative blend of both heavy beats, and elements of soul through Rakei’s voice rhythmically dancing over the track.
One of my favourites on the album is Rooftop. As one of the quieter tracks on this project, it has a more serene vibe to it. As it begins, the lyrics ‘I found love’ are the first to be sweetly sung by Rakei, with a chiming bell resonating in the background. His soothing vocals, neatly fit into the embodiment of the song about love. Moreover, the abstract sounds prompt the listener to create a dream-like image in their mind, when listening.
A few tracks down from this, Theta state proves to contribute to the experimental feel of this collection, through its shifting of sounds at the start of the song. It begins with a solid eerie and dark sound, which takes a rapid turn when smoother jazz sounds follow, which is then carried out throughout the remainder of the track. Furthermore, the electric guitar chords played in segments throughout the song add to the intimate and intricacate vibe emitted from it.
Overall, this album is both chilled and funky. It was released just in time for the summer- perfect for listening to when cruising in your car or relaxing in the park on a nice sunny day.
Rating: 8/10
Cloak is now available to stream on spotify and purchase on iTunes.
By: Maxine Harrison
