A remarkable release of experimental p-funk jazz, soul and pop by the British singer and multi-instrumentalist, exploring the ups and downs of her neuro-divergence (autism and ADHD), and playing, writing and producing everything entirely on her own in her south London back-bedroom home studio. Thackray has crafted a mature fusion of styles, playing drums, bass, keyboards, guitars, trumpets and more, with echoes of a lush Stevie Wonder or Anita Baker, with the inventive rhythms and basslines reminiscent of Field Music. Alongside her powerful, emotive, rich voice, there’s a clever fluidity of atypical chord changes and melodies, all capturing a variety of nuanced bittersweet moods, particularly with dark humour, often inspired by being labelled a ‘weirdo’ since childhood for behaving differently. “I don’t wanna die, I just wanna sleep, maybe forever …I am doing fine, I'm not gonna cry /I don't wanna die/ Except for all the times I do,” she sings with a droll fortitude across a chaotic, clever cross-rhythm on standout single Wanna Die. Her music constantly expresses moods and feelings rippling against the tide. Other standouts include the candidly dark title track, Black Hole (featuring the brilliant rapper and musician Reggie Watts) (“I'm in a black hole / I haven't slept in years”); It's Okay (featuring rapper Kassa Overall); the fabulous rhythm, syncopated riffs and reverberant vocals on Maybe Nowhere; the handclaps and piano and overdubbed vocals on Let Me Sleep and brilliantly catchy momentum and fabulous gospel vocals of Save Me. And after all the moody undulations, the upbeat closer Thank You For the Day. A hugely impressive talent finding a fabulously strong piece of work to channel her mental anguish. Out on Brownswood Recordings/ Parlophone.
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