Spelunking in search of spirits

Currently based in New York, Lafawndah is a singer, producer and master of visuals. With a debut EP and numerous collaborations under her belt, Lafawndah has given the impression of someone who sees her artistic vision with great lucidity. Her debut album, Ancestor Boy, proves she is an artist worth watching in the future.

The album has a false start with the opener “Uniform;” while it is not a bad track, it sounds different from the rest of the album. The song is a bit more abrasive and temperamental than the rest of the songs, perhaps more akin to what Sophie was doing last year. However, from the second track on, this album hits a stride with one of the best vibes so far in 2019.

Ancestor Boy embodies an icy and rhythmic art-pop sound. The first thing to note is the cavernous space in the mix between Lafawndah’s voice at the top and the drums at the bottom; synthesizers occasionally enter the mid-range to add some color, but they don’t really stick around to become a focal point. The album is very skeletal in this way, creating a space and atmosphere akin to a gaping cave where only a skylight high above allows sun rays to pierce the gloom. Lafawndah adds reverb to make this odd combination more palatable, which is then supported by whispers of ghostly sounds. Lafawndah’s vocals are multi-tracked, making her voice sound like it is bouncing off of cave walls.

Yet for an atmospheric pop record, this album is not so dreamy or smooth. In fact, it gets very physical due to the awe-inspiring percussion arrangements all over this album. The drums hit hard with heavy beats that would work very well for tribal dance. In addition, the drums are always changing, never staying static in a looped beat for very long. This constant shifting creates a fluidity that really feels unlike much else in current Western dance music. Just listen to the two tracks “Ancestor Boy” and “Storm Chaser,” in which the drums strike and roll, strike and roll, like a skilled fighter shadowboxing. Lafawndah’s choice to use organic-sounding, tangible drums provide a very necessary solid footing in her ghostly sonic world.

Besides the drums, the rest of the production is really solid, providing additional details like background vocals and deep, low-end tones to the album’s sonic landscape. The listener develops a muted sense of dread and panic, though the cause is unclear. On “Parallel,” the synth bassline sets the tone of a séance, and chanting vocals call out to an otherworld spirit. There are other disembodied vocals that float in and out of the mix. “Vous et Nous” features a low-pitched hum sounding like Tuvan throat singing. “Joseph” features restrained vocals atop rumbling synths, developing over a slow tempo. The listener’s skin starts to crawl with apprehension for an unseen entity approaching. The reverbed Enya-esque vocals towards the back end are beautiful.

Even though the beats and production are amazing, some issues prevent this album from reaching greater heights. Lafawndah’s voice lacks dexterity and stays in a high-pitched, zen-like state for much of the album. The good news is that the vocal effects are quite varied across the track listing, and the angelic yet robotic singing does support the vibe of the music. On the other hand, Lafawndah’s voice is not strong enough to convey a much-needed emotional core. A final problem with the album is its reliance on mood and vibe; while these are expertly crafted, repeat listens will reveal that there are few individual songs here worth returning to on their own. “Tourist” is one of only a couple of songs here with a strong hook.

Ancestor Boy does its very best to conjure up spirits, with a dark atmosphere, chanting vocals and more. While the album succeeds in summoning these ghosts, the summoned spirits are too blurry and smudgy to strike fear upon the Earth. To take the next step in her career, it would be wise for Lafawndah to combine her amazing beats with quality songs that could be operational and memorable outside of just a good sound palette. While a vibe wears off, songs last a lifetime.