Akua

There's a singular thematic thread that winds its way through the sonic wilderness of Akua's exploratory new EP, One's Company, pitting the determined task of taking solace in one's strength against the thoughts that often come with flushing a significant someone out of your system. It's a conflicted refrain that twists from cut to cut, shifting from the strident rhythms, cool curtain of backing keys and resolute verbal pose of the record's title track to the softer, more lamenting and apologetic pleas of the soothing "Push." Akua's deceptively delicate soul and distinctive vocal phrasing prove an endearing mix over the undulating emotional course of the record's five tunes, adding a bit of bite, along with the snapping percussion and otherworldly inflections of "Told You So," before floating over the sombre digital drones of standout cut "Monsters." As an entrée, One's Company satisfies even in its limited running time, sparking a great deal of curiosity about what else this unique vocal talent might have in store.