Closing out the day with another trip to Brazil…
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[6.83]
Ashley John: At the beach we ate funnel cake and played boardwalk games with the hopes that one of these moments would stick. Maybe the feeling of sun and sand will revisit me in February when summer seems impossible again. “Imagem” is bouncy and light but maintains a firm foundation in Mahmundi’s voice. “Imagem” lives in the space between wanting and having. I wish I’d listened to this song yesterday afternoon, weaving through Midtown and stopping on street corners to tilt my head upward to gamble a moment for a memory.
[7]
Iain Mew: A downbeat dreamstate, captivating in a similar way to Mondo Grosso’s “Labyrinth;” it’s only the fact its most retro adornments are a touch overfamiliar that prevents it carrying me quite so far.
[7]
Joshua Minsoo Kim: I have to recalibrate my expectations when listening to this because I’m constantly expecting it to reach out and grab me the way Kelela’s “Rewind” did. “Imagem” is obviously aiming for something different stylistically but it’s hard to be enthused by 808s chugging along in the most tedious manner. The chorus is the only real captivating thing here but even then, it’s primarily because of how its lyrics and vocal melodies are structured.
[5]
Nortey Dowuona: Bouncy 808s, smooth, 90’s type synths and synth bass, rattling hi hats, and the cool, strong swaying voice raised by it all.
[8]
Will Adams: A refreshing twist on Mahmundi’s self-titled debut, wherein the lush soul gets augmented with freestyle drum patterns and FM keys. It’s not quite as explosive as “Calor do Amor,” but Mahmundi’s rich voice could make up for any imperfections.
[7]
Leah Isobel: The synths are sweet and fluffy, almost feather-light. Mahmundi’s voice has a nice grit and presence to it that feels a little out of place on such a gentle track, but the contrast keeps the song from floating off into space. I could never resist a bit of cotton candy.
[7]