With the rise of The Weeknd, Drake and Frank Ocean to name but a few over the last years, a new era of RnB – or as some have come to call it ‘alternative RnB’ – has been ushered in. Although in this day and age we’re so over labels and being defined, it remains an apt way of summarising the soulful, smooth vocals, darker moods and vintage sounds evoked by the genre. All the while, telling tales of spirituality, love, heartbreak and consequently fucking and drinking the pain away of said relationship failures: it’s an age-old notion that strikes a chord with us all.
Which brings us to Jordan Bratton, the newcomer who has quite simply blown everyone else out of the water – quite a feat for the 18-year-old singer/songwriter/producer. Now, excuse me while I go cry at the thought of my own ineptitude. ‘Grey’, the first track released from The Grey Area, explores how love is never easy, and against a backdrop of violent strings and a pounding beat, Bratton lets us know: “You said you wanna find love by yourself, you wanna let me go. Gotta play this hand I was dealt, I hope you start to fold.” It’s brutally honest and won’t fail to resonate. Naturally, the album is plentiful with beautifully orchestrated songs about lost loves, surprisingly including a brilliant rendition of a Taylor Swift song. Who’d have thought? ‘Black Fever’ is a tantalizing, twisted, distorted tale of a dying love that doesn’t relent; yet ‘Midnight Rage’ switches the pace halfway through. Starting off with an ominous, heavy bass line, the mood shifts with the introduction of strings and vocals. The change in pace perfectly correlates with the Bratton’s turn in tone from anger to eventual acceptance of his impending heartache.
‘Cold Killer’ is a 90’s-esque, upbeat turn, and a stark contrast to a sad and retrospective Bratton pondering why he ever loved in the short and subdued ‘Lies.’ Two standout tracks on the album ‘No Sin Allowed’ and ‘Sinful World’ are reminiscent of ‘Candles in the Sun’ by Miguel or Frank Ocean’s ‘We Try’; two beautiful songs that discuss faith, religion and the paradoxes we all face in life.
The Grey Area is, as far as first albums go, a resounding success for the young New York native. It’s a record that is bound to put Bratton on the map as one of the most exciting upcomers around. 2014 can only bring good things. I’ve got that excited feeling again.
– Clare Povey
