Kae Sun has reached a new plateau with his long-gestating, third full-length offering. The Ghanaian-Canadian vocalist showed great promise with his last two LPs and four EPs, not to mention his short film and installation Oceans Apart. Whoever Comes Knocking is his most cohesive and assured effort thus far.
The hypnotic Ghanaian chant sample that heralds opening cut "Kwaku's Dilemma" initiates a theme of yearning that's sustained throughout the set's 40 minutes; while he remains as eclectic ever he's absorbed his influences more seamlessly here.
"Longwalk" fuses a solemn gospel vibe, soul clapping and poetic lyricism into a knee-bent protest track that is questioning and sorrowful rather than accusatory, while on the surface, the tense, cinematic electro-funk pulse of "Fix Up" (featuring Ariane Moffatt) appears to be an examination of drug culture, a closer look reveals a stinging, depiction of global police control over young men of colour.
Not that Sun has abandoned his pop smarts. "Stalk" is a breezy delight and "Flip the Rules" has a pleasingly off-kilter '80s quiet storm ambiance. "The Moment" closes the album with its assurance to "never question the moment." With Whoever Comes Knocking, Kae Sun's moment has come.
(Moonshine)The hypnotic Ghanaian chant sample that heralds opening cut "Kwaku's Dilemma" initiates a theme of yearning that's sustained throughout the set's 40 minutes; while he remains as eclectic ever he's absorbed his influences more seamlessly here.
"Longwalk" fuses a solemn gospel vibe, soul clapping and poetic lyricism into a knee-bent protest track that is questioning and sorrowful rather than accusatory, while on the surface, the tense, cinematic electro-funk pulse of "Fix Up" (featuring Ariane Moffatt) appears to be an examination of drug culture, a closer look reveals a stinging, depiction of global police control over young men of colour.
Not that Sun has abandoned his pop smarts. "Stalk" is a breezy delight and "Flip the Rules" has a pleasingly off-kilter '80s quiet storm ambiance. "The Moment" closes the album with its assurance to "never question the moment." With Whoever Comes Knocking, Kae Sun's moment has come.