Day 23. The last prime day of our musical reviewing adventure. The most excellent R&B album from 2022 was “HYPNOS” by Ravyn Lenae. While I wasn’t familiar with her before this album very much, only knowing her singles, giving this album a try was a massive return on investment. Lenae is recognized worldwide for her pillowy voice, but I think she takes full advantage of her tone and picks instrumentals to build around her well. Examples of this include the heavenly anthems of self-confidence on Inside Out, which blends guitars and violins on the choruses to synchronise a symphony of strings. M.I.A. is an injection of energy as well, with a bouncy synth and some pitter-pattering drums to reflect the song concept. It’s about, well, going missing. You know, doing your own things, living life to the fullest, but rarely requiring or desiring approval from others. As for the rest of the album, there’s even more beauty to unpack. I love Where I’m From and Deep In The World, which pair well as adjacent tracks. While both songs discuss feeling out of place, I think each presents a unique perspective on culture and personal identity, while not sacrificing sonics. Satellites, however, is probably my favourite melody across the entire record. Lenae’s breathy voice is excellent for singing about floating around in space with your significant other. That’s about all the beauty I can fit into a 250 word review, but other highlights…? Lullabye, Xtasy, Mercury, and Wish.
