‘Venomous’ opens the album with a monolothic slab of 80’s inspired R&B pop, playground hooks sliding over grumbling synths and skittering drum breaks, and sets the guiding light for much of the HEAVy sound that follows throughout (HEAVy comprising of vocalist Nicky Guiland & keyboardist Casey Benjamin, both New Yorkers). It’s the sound of 70’s, 80’s and 90’s Black New York condensed, touching upon N.E.R.D and Sa-Ra Collective, and Bootsy Collins and Herbie Hancock for good measure. Much will depend on your tolerance for Guiland’s vocal stylings. Tracks like “mylittlesong” and the lovely, sweet and breezy “SAM/SAM’s Return” demonstrate she can carry a song with some real skill, but elsewhere, she seems to lack the same discipline, resulting in too much temptation to hit the skip button. Overall, a bit hit and miss, but when it does hit, it’s hot, no question.
3 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Darren Wall
