ladies&gentlemen...MISS SOLANGE KNOWLES

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

So I've hitherto known Solange solely for being Beyoncé's lil' sis and the author of some rather wonderful Myspazz blogs but new songs from her forthcoming album Sol-Angel And The Hadley St Dreams (!!!) are leaking all over the place and they are kind of mental and awesome.

She's definitely going for some sort of consciously 'retro' feel but it seems to be all possible kinds of retro at once - have some seductive 70s funk! some 20s jazz! some 60s Motown! all at once! And, as we shall see, Solange herself is quite a one.

First, 'I Decided'. Apparently produced by Pharrell but you wouldn't know it (huzzah): I can imagine Solange prancing around in a Great Gatsby era dress and flapper-style hair to this. Impossible not to start tapping your toes to. (There's a Freemasons rmx doing the rounds too but don't be fooled, it is DREADFUL, it fits the original with lead boots and removes all the nimbleness and fun.)

Next, 'Sandcastle Disco', which if all goes to plan should be the big single. This chorus is fucking incredible, it's got to the stage where I can no longer listen to the song in public because I have to sing along. Contains an "ooh-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!" AND a "bay-ba-ba-bay-bay", also the lines "I'm a cool low Jane with a skip in my feet / I play tough as nails with my heart on my sleeve".

Finally, let's take it to the night with 'ChampagneChronicNightcap' (featuring LIL' WAYNE y'all). So smooth, so rich, so decadent, so...silly, really! LOL @ "My shovel get me to your level cuz I dig ya".

Sadly the PR response so far is: "Sorry, it's all in the very early stages. Not sure a UK release has even been confirmed!" WHATEVER.

Comments

Solange Soldiers On

[koganbot]

Publicist's email I got yesterday:

As Solange entered the stage in Kansas City, a large piece of metal fell from the doorway and onto her foot, breaking it. Ms. Knowles continued to head out to the stage and performed her full set while in extreme pain. Immediately following her performance, she was rushed to the hospital where she learned her foot was indeed broken. A true professional and extremely passionate about her art, Solange will continue on with the remainder of the tour while in a cast. Per the doctor's instructions and because of the immense pain she is experiencing, Solange will perform her set while sitting on a stool.

Re: Solange Soldiers On

[koganbot]

Lex, this is her U.S. publicist's email, if you want it.

tresa.sanders at umusic dot com

Re: Solange Soldiers On

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

OMG Solange! HARDCORE.

Thanks for the email address: no one's been assigned it here b/c it's early days, but I've been emailing Ashlee's PR who seems to know as much as there si to be known. Hassling the US PR might have some effect though...the 'Sandcastle Disco' chorus must not go to waste.

[koganbot]

"I Decided" - Sorta Smokey Robinson smoothness but w/ jazzy '40s fillips and a basic dance-club beat that somehow fits with the rest. Done well but Smokey going extra smooth doesn't grab me that much.

"Sandcastle Disco" - The smooth flow again but with a lot more bounce. I like it, but I can't help contrast this to how Destiny's Child was much more aggressive-disruptive-ambitious using similar meldings. "Bills Bills Bills" was like being seduced onto the dance floor and then casually tossed all over the room. But this is nice.

"ChampagneChronicNitecap" - I like the voice descending the stairs, an easy feel to a noneasy melody. The bass is restless, throwing tricky obstacles at the dancer's feet and making the floor undulate. "Sandcastle" is probably better, but this one is grabbing my attention.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

The third one is the best (lazy woozy wibble), first one not bad. Not convinced about the middle one at all - needs more beats (preferably from this century?).

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Yeah the chorus is most traditionally retro of them - but the melody and lyrics are too killer to resist.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

"chorus" = "beats"