Having a listen to Janelle Monáe’s The Age of Pleasure without subconsciously adjusting your inner rhythm to the captivating beats leaking from the sound is virtually unachievable.
Presenting her fourth studio album, the Grammy nominee (eight times over) has put forth her contender for this year’s official summer music, and it wouldn’t be truthful to say she is not a strong contender.
This sexually-charged musical assembly by the 37-year-old Kansas City native was initiated with a powerful anthem which outlines her journey of self-love, set to the sounds reminiscent of a sultry, hot summer evening.
Float was introduced confidently into a music collection that was relentless for 14 tracks, setting the stage for an exciting playlist that would cater to every mood during a city night out.
Janelle stirred excitement with her calculated and patient composition and crescendos. As one silky jazz sound led into another, she compelled the listener to liberate their restraints and indulge in the lustrous notes of the brass-supported drum machines.
Owing to the uninterrupted nature of the album, it felt as if the party didn’t need to stop. For over half an hour, listeners enjoyed the fiery sounds and fast-paced dance tracks that radiated Janelle’s profound musical flair.
The album adopted and maintained a regular rhythm akin to reggae, accompanied by the singer’s alternating requests for appreciation and raunchy enjoyment.
Janelle integrated brief tracks which functioned as intermissions, featuring casual dialogs between people over the sound of the previous track’s primary musical theme. These short breaks allowed her to take a breather from her varied choruses and verses, which exhibited a blend of R&B rapping and deep singing.
Regrettably, this element initially disrupted the listening experience as we tried to understand the specific creative process.
Following this, the atmosphere shifts as the star momentarily departs from the whispering, mysterious, coarse notes of the jazz passages for a more traditional upbeat pop beat in Lipstick Lover.
The song stayed true to its overarching electric reggae sound but introduced some conventional ideas with its tempo and lyrics, which leaned towards the keyboards and vocals of a dominant chart-hitter.
The straightforward yet powerful track seamlessly flowed back into the enticing energy of the former tracks. The imagery of humans gathering in a humid, smoky outdoor bar after hours – and other not-so-modest visuals – came to the forefront.
Janelle, known for her role in Antebellum and her song Make Me Feel, concluded her continuous music session with two fantastically produced songs proving that Janelle could truly belt out a song whenever she wanted to.
Only Have Eyes 42 channeled Big Band sounds, allowing listeners to appreciate Janelle’s raw talent as she professed limitless love for an unspecified someone.
Her vocals on this song were like warm honey flowing over the plucked guitar chords, hitting all the right notes.
With A Dry Red, Janelle ends her exploration of pleasure to the sound of a cheesy scratching noise, inviting the listener to start the journey over again – an offer few would refuse on special occasions.
This album was essentially one long, sensual feel-good vibe that, while it had minor changes, maintained a consistent essence from start to finish.
It was subtly simple, providing a dose of classic dance music with an enticing reggae spin. If capturing the mood of a night out was a sound, this collection would be a great visual companion to enhance the feeling of pure indulgence.
The Age of Pleasure is currently available for streaming.
