Kelela Returns With Her Most Beautifully Abrasive Album Yet

It has been nearly a decade since Kelela dropped her debut album Take Me Apart, and she is still finding ways to make standard genre labels look completely useless. On her latest project, new avatar, the Warp Records singer pivots into a heavier, more weathered sonic territory. Stereogum recently named the project their Album of the Week, pointing out how she trades some of her earlier optimism for a tougher, more jaded perspective. This record thrives on elegant abrasion. Kelela is still delivering those signature deep honey vocal tones, but this time they are rubbing against scratchy, steel-wool guitars on "idea 1" and doom-ridden, Burial-esque production on "goin down." She pulls inspiration from the likes of Incubus and Linkin Park, integrating distorted electric guitars that clash beautifully with her R&B roots. It is a heavy, industrial-tinged journey that still keeps her core tenderness intact. Check it out below.