'Reflection' shows Loraine James with her most captivating works to date.
Bouncing off from her generally likable first two albums despite certain issues surrounding the haphazard rhythms and textures that don’t coalesce well, especially with the addition of guest features, Loraine James sweeps through yet again with her third album, ‘Reflection’ that still comprises of guest features and jagged and mechanical electronic rhythms that has been her hallmark, but smearing that with colder yet medicinal textures that works much better especially with the guest features that still bulks in this album. It does feel intentional too, provided the lyrical detail that touches upon introspection as Loraine James and her features mostly speak about success, internal conflict, and meager attention towards the political strides at spots.
The textures work wondrously as the minimalist trap percussion submerges well enough with glossy and plinking synths and whenever Loraine James and some of the collaborators add their voice to the instrumentation, but some of those collaborators don’t stick the landing as much as others. It might be due to the vocal effects stitched in that may work as means of making themselves sound like a shrouded voice in the room but it only sounds a bit wonky for it to work. While the melodies might swirl and stabilize to a shaky manner, some of the compositions on the back half end up not as interesting as they should be. Instead, it’s languid, which might fit the tone of the record, but if there aren’t many dynamics or melodies, it can end up in the background after a while.
But still, Loraine James’ capability to make these cold textures and unstable song structures are embodied greatly with ‘Reflection’. And just like the album cover, there are more ways for her ability to create something this amorphous in the future.
Favorite Tracks: Let’s Go, Black Ting, On The Lake Outside, Self Doubt (Leaving The Club Early), Running Like That, Simple Stuff, Running Like That Least Favorite Track: Built That Last