Jorja Smith — Be Right Back
Qobuz new release review (May 2021)
After the impact Jorja Smith made with her 2018 debut album, she could be forgiven for taking her time in constructing her second. Lost & Found was such a fully-formed statement of intent, such an impressive slice of forward-looking and highly personal modern soul delivered with a relaxed confidence, that it belied the fact that the 21-year-old singer was still finding her footing in the music industry. Of course, the album was a chart success in the UK, and received critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic, and Smith has maintained fan interest since then with a steady drip of singles that have illustrated both her range and indefatigable need to make music. In 2020, she not only led off a Blue Note Records tribute album, but also had a hit collaboration with Popcaan, and any artist who manages that in a year is one who is burning off some serious creative energy. Be Right Back is more evidence of that musical power surge, as this eight-track release isn’t even Smith’s second proper album. No, this “project” as she’s calling it, is sitting somewhere between an EP and a mixtape, but it’s brimming with enough soulful swagger and innovative energy to keep listeners entranced until she finally does get around to an actual follow-up. The songs are brief (only one breaks the four-minute mark), but such concision results in strong impact. Some, like “Home” (which is primarily acoustic guitar and Smith’s voice), are spare in arrangement and construction, while others, like “Digging,” are more highly produced but still centered on Smith’s unique and impactful vocal delivery. Whether toying with breakbeats on “Addicted” or adding filigree-like piano figures on “Gone,” Smith is clearly comfortable dabbling around the edges of her sonic signature. It all builds toward “Weekend” which, at just over four minutes, is the longest cut here, but it’s also the most complex, with a dense, layered production supporting a forceful vocal performance from Smith. © Jason Ferguson/Qobuz
