Glover’s numbers coming up
Donald Glover is some kind of zeitgeist Jedi. As an actor he’s been a part of hits Community, Solo: A Star Wars Story,
The Lion King and Atlanta, which he also wrote. As a musician, he is Childish Gambino – unpredictable, uber-talented and increasingly revered.
His evolution as a musician has been chequered. Early attempts had moments of promise, brilliance even, but were overshadowed by a significant lack of substance.
In 2016 though, Awaken, My Love changed everything, and demanded to be taken seriously. This Is America doubled down on that promise.
Gambino has evolved past song titles. He is modelling the post-songtitle era. On new album 03.15.20, the majority of songs have names like 42.26 or 35.31, the latter of which is a joyous, breathless gospel romp with Gambino at his childish best.
03.15.20 is exceptional and welltimed. It will take more listens to pick apart, there’s so much good stuff going on. Gambino is looking outwards, ‘‘Seven billion people trying to free themselves, said a billion prayers tryin’ to free myself’’.
The music stays busy and the voice continually changes, occasionally morphed beyond recognition. The styles keep switching up. It’s modern, with classic foundations. As you listen, you’ll hear Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, but with Gambino’s spin, timing and clever mind tricks.
Sufjan Stevens is an eccentric, eclectic music angel. His compositions are always exquisitely considered, and conveyed with the purest sincerity. He is experimental and continually creative. His subject matter is broad and fluid.
Stevens’ last fully formed solo record, Carrie and Lowell, dealt with the death of his mother (Carrie) and her relationship with her second husband (Lowell). Recorded alone in a bedroom (a small fan is occasionally audible in the background), it harked back to his early work, before he immersed himself in brass sections, programmed beats and huge, overthe-top performances. It’s widely regarded as one of the best records of 2015.
For his third collaboration album in as many years, Stevens has worked with his stepfather, Lowell Brams. Aporia is instrumental, meditative, and lures you into its web as it gets progressively more weird and sonically intricate.
This is a master of music tinkering joyfully with chords he’s played many times. This is Sufjan-lite, without lyrics his normal intensity is missing, but if you want deeper, he has a good back-catalogue.