Denai Moore - We Used To Bloom
At 23 Jamaican born, and British raised Denai Moore is an impressively self-assured Nu R&B artist whose musical inspirations look like a fascinating Venn diagram of everything that’s great in modern music. Vocally she shares a range and sound with Lianne La Havas, but her music is more challenging, her lyrics more considered and personal, whilst remaining soulful and deep. Opening with Let It Happen, synth snaps vie with multi-layered vocal takes, subtle brass, detuned guitars and 80’s drums to form a smooth fondue that provides if not a template, at least a map for the journey through We Used To Bloom. Fidgety pinpricks of acid squidge around the trumpets of Twilight, her breathy Elliot Smith cover which oozes classy sincerity. Do They Care About Us has political chutzpah, strings, slo-mo drum-machines and that voice carrying everything on its slender shoulders. She sings as if taking you in her arms and melodically whispering meaningful truths. Wonky Bring You Shame recalls Vinni Reilly’s unique guitar technique and in a few words disarms you, “when will I find a home in myself”. The album never catches fire or invites you to dance, but wears plenty of heart on it’s sleeve and dreams big. If she unlocks the funk and gets her groove on, she could be a very big deal.
8/10
