Toronto singer Milosh’s R&B project follows up on critically acclaimed debut
Rhye hit the scene back in 2013 with their songs “Open” and “The Fall.” The group (initially composed of Canadian singer Milosh and Danish musician Robin Hannibal — Hannibal has since left) released their debut album, Woman, the same year, to great success. Their soft, hypnotic R&B sound enchanted thousands of listeners. Almost four years later, Rhye is set to release their second album, Blood, on Feb. 2. I was lucky enough to spend my weekend listening to the new album.
I’ve never been one for the slow, soft sounds of R&B. I find them repetitive, difficult to focus on, and generally uninteresting, so it took me a while to open up and really listen. Once I did, however, I began to appreciate the nuance Rhye weaves into their tracks, which I think is best exemplified in their new song “Phoenix.” The track is fun, surprisingly funky, and very interesting to listen to, with the guitar and the vocals taking turns holding my attention over the hypnotic beat. Another highlight would have to be “Sinful.”
The rest of Blood wasn’t quite so captivating, and I found myself struggling to focus on the words being sung, especially given the breathy style Rhye favours — this works well with their sound overall, but many lyrics seemed slurred or mumbled, and it became frustratingly difficult for me. For background or passive enjoyment, other listeners may find it quite satisfactory.
Rhye’s new album is interesting, at times captivating — something fans of Rhye should be looking forward to, and something those who like R&B should definitely look into.
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