ALA.NI

ACCA

BY Ryan B. PatrickPublished Jan 27, 2020

7
"Everyone does their thing a little bit differently," UK singer ALA.NI sings on opening track, "Differently," and the lyrics ring true in this case. ACCA represents her sophomore effort — her first being 2017's You & I — and it is a curious swirl of layered vocal arrangements and sprinkling of strings and bass.
 
The native Londoner, born to parents from Grenada and with an ancestor who was a noted cabaret singer, her musical touch-points are wide and varied genre-wise. The vocals of Iggy Pop — doing his best Leonard Cohen — can be heard on the decidedly just okay "Le Diplomate"; the old-timey cabaret mood of "Hide" speaks to a fearless level of creativity, while the strident "Your Silence Will Not Protect You" offers an anthemic sound to empowerment.
 
Numbers like "Away Go" and "Wales" showcase a theatrical vibe that activates the analytical and emotional parts of the brain, as does "Van P," with its tacked-on yet serviceable rap from Lakeith Stanfield of Atlanta and Knives Out fame. ACCA is showy, drama-dripped and ultimately rewarding. It demands a lot from the listener, but more music these days probably should
(Independent)

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