Kelela's world-taking 'Cut 4 Me' (2013) mixtape blooms from 13 to 22 tracks, augmented with dramatic new remixes and riddims from Jam City, Neana, Kingdom, Mike Q, Massacooramaan...
The jewel in Fade to Mind's crown, Kelela steps out with a glittering debut mixtape/album starring production from Jam City, Kingdom, Morri$, Bok Bok, Nguzunguzu, Girl Unit and more. Hailing from DC via LA, Kelela established an alluring rep with guest vocals on records by Teengirl Fantasy and Daedelus before knocking out her sublime 'Bank Head' single with Kingdom earlier this year. Described as "a deeply personal body of work...situated in a universe where R&B and pop conventions are both celebrated and challenged' neatly summarises this, her most substantial and impressive piece of work to date. Breezing above and thru a stock of heavyweight instrumentals from her Night Slugs/Fade 2 Mind fam, from Bok Bok's wavey 'Guns & Synths' ace, to the crystalline, free-floating structure of 'Do It Again' by NA (who dat?) and Jam City's luxuriant soul strings on 'Cherry Coffee', her effortless, curling hooks and melodic narration distinguishes Kelela as one of the strongest new vocalists you'll hear all year.
For the bonus 12" Jam City entirely overhauls 'Keep It Cool' with a smoother sorta tension; Kingdom resets 'Enemy' with a low-riding ballroom swagger; Mike Q ramps the spare Jam City mix of 'Cherry Coffee' with flash and bolshy ballroom flair; 'Go All Night' gets a kick drum reinforcement from Neana, contrasting sharply with the tessellating prisms of Massacooramaan's crystalline render.
