Genesis Owusu

★★★★

Smiling With No Teeth HOUSE ANXIETY/OURNESS. CD/DL/LP

Aussie star-in-waiting announces himself in style.

Images of black dogs and depression are recurring themes on this excellent debut LP by Ghanaian-born, Canberraraised Genesis Owusu. Rather than let serious subject matter lead to too much earnest reflection, Owusu embarks on a radiant journey through self-examination. The songs morph from P-funk grooves to punk riffs to euphoric synthpop and more, as Owusu’s honeyed croon shapeshifts into crazed barks and urgent rapping. The Other Black Dog sounds like Outkast turning TV On The Radio’s frown upside down, Waitin’ On Ya is an existential crisis neo-soul anthem worthy of Frank Ocean’s debut, and the sweet sway of A Song About Fishing sounds like a cosmic-pop update of I Got You Babe. Owusu is a charismatic anchor throughout this boundary-pushing debut.