Perhaps it was fate that brought together Jessy Lanza and Jeremy Greenspan. The Junior Boys mastermind initially called on Lanza to provide backing vocals for his 2011 LP, It's All True. At the time Greenspan was impressed with Lanza's skills and the two began producing songs together in his Berlin studio. The result is the 9 tracks featured on Lanza's debut, Pull My Hair Back, a sparse, minimalist take on modern R&B and electronic pop. There is plenty of space, whether it is between lyrics or drum programming, and it is more than effective. Nothing is overdone here, it is all done just right. And while it might seem to be a strange pick for a label like Hyperdub, Pull My Hair Back can only help in expanding their reach. If only this is what we were being force fed on commercial radio. Recommended.

• music label: Hyperdub 2013

reviewed by Joey Coco 09/2013