Nebula Reviews: Kali Uchis — Isolation (Summer Daily 8/8/22)

Artist: Kali Uchis

Album: Isolation

Release date: April 6, 2018

Label: Virgin EMI / Universal

RIYL: Genesis Owusu, Amy Winehouse

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB1DhR4CImT4IMnq3CX-cCEtB0aLjyWTo

The 21st century has, in its 22 short years thus far, seen almost every major genre continue to evolve in new and significant ways. This has been particularly visible in the most commercially significant genres — hip hop in particular — but while its changes have been somewhat less high-profile, the relentless march of time has not spared R&B. There are plenty of records that showcase artists bringing new influences into genres like neo-soul (take Genesis Owusu’s record from last year, for instance), but Kali Uchis’ 2018 debut album Isolation remains a notable and worthwhile example.

Born and raised in Virginia, Uchis’ youth was characterized by an interest in art, film, and music — an interest that, when it began to interfere with her high school coursework, led to her family kicking her out. During this period she began developing the music that would later become her 2012 mixtape, Drunken Bubble, a genre-fluid debut that would put her on the map; 2015’s Por Vida EP would further this and help lock in high-profile collaborations with artists such as Gorillaz and Tyler, the Creator. This created the ideal environment for Isolation to drop.

Isolation is a kaleidoscopic listening experience. A host of producers including such names as BadBadNotGood, Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, Damon Albarn, and Thundercat ensure a lively variety of sounds running the gamut from old-school soul (“After The Storm”, featuring Tyler, the Creator and Bootsy Collins) to modern psych funk (“Tomorrow”). Uchis’ vocal performances range from the smooth to the snarly; although no blanket statements can be made, plenty of moments sound like Amy Winehouse if Bruno Pernadas had been handling the arrangements (“Feel Like A Fool”). Those who would stereotype Uchis’ music based on her Colombian-American heritage, meanwhile, will find themselves sorely surprised; while “Nuestro Planeta” is a fairly straightforward reggaeton-pop cut, influences from Latin American music are more subdued (“Miami”) or simply buried altogether.

All in all, the variety present on Isolation is mostly a strength, occasionally a weakness. As with many other pop records of its type and caliber, it is held together by the force of will of its central performer and not always much else; nonetheless, that force is present and more than adequate to make it an engaging and worthwhile listen.

Rating: B