An unusually delicate, tender and eccentric affectionately album of gospel-infused R&B about a black gay relationship and friendships, the second by Baltimore-born Brooklyn-based singer Josiah Wise. The twittering melodies and lovely harmonies come aplenty here, but it is the lyrics that make this album one of cherish with a smile, as well as the unusually comfortable style of the subject matter. “I went to bed single now I'm kissing / A man that was once a hyacinth”, and “He never played football / But look at how he holds me / He never needed silverware but I'm his little spoon,” sings Wise on the opener Hyacinth, quickly setting the scene of domestic bliss. And on Same Shoe Size, another affirming compatibility, the more playfully filthy: “My auntie's right, don't fuck a man / If his shoes are two times the size of your hand, ” with added comical mimicry of a trumpet part. And on Malik: “Blessed is the man who gambles / Blessed is the man who wears socks with his sandals.” And on Derrick’s Beard, simply a repeated refrain. “Come over here, missing your beard”. It’s both charming and oddball, right up the the final track, Fellowship, decorated with beautifully light, crisp percussion and African thumb piano, which is an the absurdly fluid and catchy single, affirming and thanking for friendship. Overall a big, warm, warbly, soulful comfortable kiss and hug in music form. Out on Secretly Canadian.
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