ALLIE & THE KOUNT

Euphoria

It’s been a fruitful year for Toronto’s allie; her 2017 project Nightshade was well-received and landed on the 2018 Polaris Music Prize long list. Her sensual, thoughtful, electronically fuelled R&B is a winning approach, and the four-track Euphoria EP builds on this foundation, this time with producer-collaborator the Kount to deliver a classic soul-inspired outing that balances live sounds — thanks to help from Leland of BadBad Not Good and Hannah of Luna L — with the established electro aesthetic. “Camino” goes all in on chill mode as it ponders the many emotional “shades of blue,” while “Oowee” shifts gears and moods on a “back the eff up if you trying to get in my way” mentality. “Nothing Else” weaves in a jaunty fashion, keys punctuating its message of romantic compatibility and “Back to Her” comfortably leans on its dreamy R&B hook as it cruises to the finish line. (Independent)