Jorja Smith is one of very few UK artists with a completely untarnished reputation. Critically acclaimed and publicly adorned, her ’18 debut album Lost & Found is one of the most influential British R&B/soul records of the decade, and everything that the Walsall-native has touched since has turned to gold, from stunning feature performances with the likes of Wesley Joseph, Burna Boy and Shaybo, to her sultry, atmospheric EP in ’21, “Be Right Back”.
After a tantalising five years, she has now finally returned with her sophomore album, falling or flying, which is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated bodies of work of the year. Will her aforementioned reputation be upheld?
Lost & Found cemented Smith’s delectable sonic inclinations; falling or flying challenges them. The new album is a stylistically eclectic body of work, with Smith boldly venturing beyond what would have been expected of her sonically, bringing the influence of both global and local sounds across the album’s landscape with direction from production duo DAMEDAME.
The musical diversity is mirrored in the tone and mood that Smith offers; although we oft find her in swooning melancholy, wistful in her inwardness, there is a purpose and assuredness behind much of her lyricism, a factor that is characterised in the vocal performances that cascade the subtle and subversive soundscapes, with the gently engrossing palettes offering an overarchingly immersive and poignant timbre across the project.
We are gifted two features on the LP; Hus returns the featuring favour that Smith offered on his recent dense and daring third body of work, appearing on “Feelings”, making a distinictive appearance that reflects the cut’s title, whilst Jamaican trailblazer Lila Iké adds a sumptuous slice of saccharine soul on standout cut “Greatest Gift”.
Although there’s no brazenly weaker tracks on the project, it could be said that the record lacks a little firepower; Smith leaning into her subdued nature to dazzling effect, but it’s clear through her previous work – and tunes from this album like “GO GO GO” – that there is an added layer of rousing passion beneath the sentimentality that is plain to see across this body of work.
Nevertheless, this is an album full of heart, emotional intricacy and artistic vision. It is beyond doubt – Smith is amongst the most pinnacle voices in contemporary music.
She is, simply, flying.
Listen to the full album…