THE WAIT IS OVER. After show-stealing collabs with SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, Drake, Solange and Kanye West (check Ye's 2016 non-album cut "Saint Pablo"), Sampha Sisay finally delivers his debut solo long-player for Young Turks. Co-produced by XL Recordings' in-house producer Rodaidh McDonald, known for his extensive work with The xx, Adele and King Krule (fans of any and all of the above, this is for you), Process is a disarmingly unique take on soul and electronic music including, but not limited to: piano ballads, LinnDrum, trap, frenetic percussion suddenly giving way to moody atmosphere reminiscent of the more introspective moments in between Drake album cuts. Sampha goes it alone on all ten tracks, entirely devoid of features with the exception of a mysterious Kanye West writing credit on "Timmy's Prayer". We've been waiting for "Under" to be cut to wax since we first heard it open his 2014 Boiler Room set. You'd be hard pressed to find anything more soulful than "Incomplete Kisses", or more earnest than "What Shouldn't I Be" all year. While mainstream R&B has become virtually indistinguishable from hip-hop (and don't get me started on "alt-R&B"), Process demonstrates an important third path for modern soul music that the next generation of songwriters and producers should pay close attention to. Recommended.

• black vinyl pressing
• printed insert
• digital download included
• music label: Young Turks 2017

reviewed by peanut dust 02/2017