I don’t think anyone misses Prince the way I do. It’s been three long years and the industry has widely accepted that that was it – pocket-sized soul-funk was dead. So, when Raphael Saadiq dropped the near-perfect Jimmy Lee, it wasn’t just my lonely purple head he turned: Colombia Records woke up and made this the first album they’ve peddled in ten years. Let me tell you why.
These aren’t scorned tracks about trivial heartache, or bragging rights of a life well-lived. Saadiq’s got shit to say and he’s thought about it, a lot. There’s a soothing pain in ‘Sinners Prayer’ where we’re assured we aren’t the only ones feeling lost with just about everything in 2019, and that leads to the beautiful ‘The World is Drunk’ – wouldn’t everything make so much more sense if it were?
This album is going to seduce you, but honestly. It’s going to be there, in your kitchen with a nice glass of dark red wine asking how your day was. It’s going to kiss you on the forehead, maybe rub your shoulders. He’s a smooth mover, is Saadiq.
It’s a shamelessly funky journey of self-reflection, which is no mean feat from a fella who’s been in the game as long as Raphael. He’s made the audio magic happen for everyone from Sheila E to Ed Sheeran; now comes Jimmy Lee‘s exquisitely produced turn to take centre stage. He can slap a bass like it owes him money.
Haiku Review
Raphael is here,
He’s funky and he knows it.
You’re gonna love this.
