Beloved
After a series of prolific singles, Miles From Kinshasa brings his sun kissed introspection and charismatic honesty to a more substantial body of work on new EP ‘Beloved’. The South Londoner is well travelled, and sounds it, on the project that offers an assortment of varying canorous exploration and progressive, cascading instrumentals. A subtle, meandering series of emotional projection and mediated perception, the soundscape is cinematic and melodically wandering; with percussion and bass that is busy and motley and a strong range of synths, keys and guitars. The project was co-produced by Miles himself and regular collaborator Kadiata.
The opening cut, ‘Wearing Smiles’, is a jazzy and understated track - like a shadow in the blazing sun - questioning the reality of joy and image in a coy, sardonic way. ‘Best of You’ follows, contributing sounds and rhythmic patterns influenced by Afro-R&B, with Miles bringing out profound flows and writing, and laidback sophistication in the delivery. ‘Extra’ is a sensual, sexy vibe that uses some female backing vocals and some lovely subtle synth work. ‘Dice Games’ continues with the atmospheric, romantic timbre and ideological direction of Extra, with a sparse instrumental and witty, introspective one liners.
On ‘Motionz’ Miles provides his usual captivating charm and integral veracity, united with a blithe, airy instrumental and a memorable feature from underground spectacular Murkage Dave, who has worked with artists like Jaykae and Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn. ‘Lookin’ 4 U’ offers more modernistic drums and expansive vocal production on a song that blends different generic approaches in a compelling, provocative manner. One of my favourites on the project is ‘Testing’, which combines emotive vocal texture and retrospective, authentic writing to create a song that hits deeply both sonically and lyrically. The project ends on an upbeat tone with ‘Let Me Down’, which again nods to a jazz influence with a Tom Misch-esque chord pattern and smooth, illustrious bass work, alongside idyllic, anthemic vocal melodies.
When discussing the project, the artist remarked ‘Beloved is an honest project about vulnerability and growth through the lenses of a millennial. It’s millennial blues to get us through the times soaked in nostalgia’. He sumed it up better than I ever could. Modern, condensed and thematically immersive, this is a superb project from one of the very best undiscovered artists. Discover him now.