It's fitting that Kali Uchis call her studio debut Isolation. On it, the songstress exhibits a quiet power that puts her in a league of her own. Lush, sensual and eclectic, Isolation is a sure-footed declaration of independence, and each track presents one of Uchis's different facets.
The album's list of collaborators is curated perfectly; with help from Thundercat, Steve Lacy and Jorja Smith, to name a few, Uchis floats seamlessly between moods and genres. She drizzles liquid vocals over standouts like "Just a Stranger," "Tyrant" and the motivational funk ballad "After the Storm." The spirit of Amy Winehouse echoes on sweeping soul tracks like "Flight 22" and "Feel Like a Fool," and Uchis flirts with hip-hop on "Coming Home," an interlude that begs to be a full song. Putting a spotlight on her Colombian roots, Uchis sprinkles the album with dashes of Spanish and teams up with Reykon for "Nuestro Planeta," last summer's sultry reggaeton scorcher.
Isolation works because Uchis displays impeccable command over her voice and her style. She bends genres to her will rather than allowing them to absorb her identity, making for an impressive effort that will only improve as it ages.
(Virgin/EMI)The album's list of collaborators is curated perfectly; with help from Thundercat, Steve Lacy and Jorja Smith, to name a few, Uchis floats seamlessly between moods and genres. She drizzles liquid vocals over standouts like "Just a Stranger," "Tyrant" and the motivational funk ballad "After the Storm." The spirit of Amy Winehouse echoes on sweeping soul tracks like "Flight 22" and "Feel Like a Fool," and Uchis flirts with hip-hop on "Coming Home," an interlude that begs to be a full song. Putting a spotlight on her Colombian roots, Uchis sprinkles the album with dashes of Spanish and teams up with Reykon for "Nuestro Planeta," last summer's sultry reggaeton scorcher.
Isolation works because Uchis displays impeccable command over her voice and her style. She bends genres to her will rather than allowing them to absorb her identity, making for an impressive effort that will only improve as it ages.
