An artist at home in a wide range of styles
On her first release since 2014's acclaimed 1021, Toronto-based artist Rochelle Jordan ups the ante even further, blending in everything from the slick contemporary soulhop coming out of Canada's biggest city, to U.K. garage, vintage drum and bass and even straight-ahead R&B.
Working with longtime collaborator KLSH as well as Machinedrum as producers, the 12-track record is a showcase to the depth of this artist's talent.
It is also a celebration of a singer completely at home in any number of R&B sub-genres and styles. That kind of skill is what you gain from years of touring with everyone from Childish Gambino and Jesse Ware to working with Erykah Badu, Chance The Rapper and Spice Girls' Mel B.
Here are five things to know about Play With the Changes.
1: Love You Good
The opening tune is a killer. With skittering rhythms, elastic bass and layered, breathy vocals, this song would sound at home on a classic Goldie or LTJ Bukem album back in the '90s. It's the kind of shimmering sound that conjures up the best hang table at the back of a cavernous club that is going off big time.
2: All Along
As soon as the hop-back beat kicked in on this single, the urge to bust out the old Aaliyah albums and other vintage releases was strong. If attempting some of those shoulder-dislocating dance moves from a New Edition video didn't quite go as smoothly as hoped, it didn't take away from the joyous bounce of the song. The ending bass chant is awesome.
3: Count It
Atmospheric and moody, this is the slowest track of the set and makes something of a midpoint break in the more upbeat vibe of the album. It really showcases how fast Jordan can sing-flow her lyrics that defiantly challenge a partner who might leave, but won't leave her lonely. Whoever added in those totally distorted yelps and barks intermittently, it was a stroke of genius.
4: Lay
With a bit of a woozy bossa nova feel, this ballad slinks its way around some warped synth passages while still staying pretty true to a classic love declaration. What is it about songs where someone is watching their partner sleep that always seems a bit creepy? 5: Dancing Elephants You'd expect any song with a title like this to be a banger and it is. The longest tune on the album at over five minutes, it takes its time to pick up the pulse, but when it takes off at around the 60-second mark, it marks one hip-shaking shift after another.