Sampha
LAHAI


4.0
excellent

Review

by Slex USER (6 Reviews)
October 28th, 2023 | 25 replies


Release Date: 10/20/2023 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Time piece

LAHAI, like time, is interstitial, comprised of loops and ripples and switch-ups stitched together that coalesce into a greater whole. Sampha is completely preoccupied by it; each song bleeds into the next to present a swirling and beatific interrogation of memory, time and perseverance. This works twofold, providing the experience an emotional and thematic backbone while also lending itself perfectly to the artist's impressionistic and patchwork brand of soul. While it can be a bit on the nose at times (with titles like Can't Go Back and Time Piece), LAHAI is a meticulous and impressively whole album presenting an artist who has found his niche by marrying thematic significance to a sound that cleverly caters to it.

On a purely musical level, it's thrilling how many elements LAHAI filters through Sampha's idiosyncratic style. His piano still features most prominently, such as on opener Stereo Colour Cloud, where it's modulated into a beautiful, and incredibly catchy, dance with rippling synths and clattering drums. It acts as anchor on the subtly eerie Satellite Business, surrounded by sci-fi synth burbles and disembodied vocalisations, grounding the alienesque interlude. On closer Rose Tint it's an accent under a layer of heartbeat thumps and delirious off-kilter keyboards. Suspended features it everywhere in so many ways it's like Sampha doing a Bubba Gump spiel for his instrument of choice: gorgeous choral melodies, complimentary jabs of jumping keys, and rapid arpeggios buttressing jazzy percussion.

Throughout, Sampha gives a gorgeous and nimble vocal performance, flitting from singing to rapping and back again with dexterity and ease. Whether it's the improved rap flow he shows off on Satellite Business or the mesmerizing Suspended flanked on all sides by wavering falsetto and staccato vocalizing, it seems he keeps finding ingenious ways of improving and utilizing his singularly reedy and aching voice. Each moment feels carefully considered and earned, ending with the artist cutting through the fog to arrive at a moment of perfect clarity and gratefulness:
'Smilin' in the face of the adversities that we take on, my fuel for the camera, everybody gather around, gonna take this picture now, everybody speakin' loud, everybody in one house'.


user ratings (96)
3.7
great
related reviews

Process


Comments:Add a Comment 
Slex
October 28th 2023


17255 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

A lil thing, album is sick

DaveTrane
October 28th 2023


664 Comments


gorgeous record

Rowan5215
Staff Reviewer
October 28th 2023


47985 Comments


doesn't top Process but very good stuff regardless, Suspended is the one. nice writeup

Slex
October 29th 2023


17255 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah, opener, Satellite, Suspended and the closer are my faves

Calc
October 29th 2023


17459 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

album is sick agreed

robertsona
Staff Reviewer
October 29th 2023


28180 Comments

Album Rating: 3.8

Spirit 2.0 is best

Slex
October 29th 2023


17255 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I think I just listened to Spirit too much pre-release tbh but it is one of the best!

stupidpuma89
October 29th 2023


28 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Anyone know where to find the two bonus tracks that feature El Guincho and Yussef Dayes?

Purpl3Spartan
October 31st 2023


8992 Comments


Nice review my dude will prob check

Slex
October 31st 2023


17255 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Sorry Puma I do not



Thanks Purp!

Squiggly
November 10th 2023


1284 Comments


This is so good, can’t wait to dive into the lyrics as those I have picked up on have made me smile, like the line “looking in the mirror like I found a twin”

BlushfulHippocrene
Staff Reviewer
November 14th 2023


4053 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Love this album as much as Process so far. Dancing Circles is probably my favourite, adore the little, adlib-like vocals in the background.

AmericanFlagAsh
December 2nd 2023


13612 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Damn this is such an improvement over Process

onionbubs
December 2nd 2023


22172 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

ehh now that the dust has settled i like process more

AmericanFlagAsh
December 3rd 2023


13612 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Lol this is so much more concise

onionbubs
December 3rd 2023


22172 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

i feel the opposite lol this is more sprawling and sonically expansive and shit which is rad but i think it loses its steam as it goes along, where process is front to back more consistent. this picks it back up towards the end again tho

Rowan5215
Staff Reviewer
December 3rd 2023


47985 Comments


Process absolutely smokes this for me. nothing here as good as Timmy's Prayer or Plastic. this is still great though

AmericanFlagAsh
December 5th 2023


13612 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Literally most of this is better than those two songs

Artistically and sonically this is just much more engaging

robertsona
Staff Reviewer
December 5th 2023


28180 Comments

Album Rating: 3.8

I think this is a better listen and "Spirit 2.0" probably his most appealing song, but they're somehow pretty neck-and-neck. this is kind of like a stream of minor highlights. "reverse faults" and "incomplete kisses" seem best from debut.

AmericanFlagAsh
December 5th 2023


13612 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Dancing Circles is so good



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