Jamie Lidell’s now on Warp, not your usual home for Soul and Funk but still a very respected label, and Lidell never was your stereotypical Soul Man. This after all is his 3rd Studio album and Lidell’s voice is still strong, but has all the cracks of age and vulnerability.
The album starts off with the serious swag of “Completely Exposed,” with its tale of vulnerability that funkily chugs along thanks to a beatbox that doubles as the song’s rhythmic bottom, the near acapella opening verse of barely settles in “Sometimes I just can’t stand to be/Standing in my own reflection”.
Compass isn’t all anguished introspective, and delivers on breeziness too. ‘Enough’s Enough’ achieves a sound that Ronson could only ever dream of, its chunky bass and flute-line hopelessly in deference to the Jackson 5, with an infectious punch of energy that punctuates the way that his subject matter is making him feel -excited and unashamed…
Influences are abound throughout this album, from Prince to Stevie Wonder, but it is more so an homage than imitation. Feist, Beck and Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear all played a part in Compass, though only Beck’s kitchen-sink style is particularly noticeable – this is a gripping addition to the work of an exciting British artist.
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