In 2010,
Mike Milosh
flew to Denmark to work on a
Quadron
remix with that duo's
Robin Hannibal
. The collaboration grew into another duo, named
Rhye
, which released two singles on
Innovative Leisure
in 2012.
Milosh
and
Hannibal
weren't forthcoming about being behind the achingly romantic soul-pop elegance of "Open" and "The Fall." Once word got out, it seemed forehead-smacking obvious to anyone familiar with
's solo albums and
's many involvements,
included.
's
Woman
, released on a major and front-loaded with the first two A-sides, is an ideal fusion of the two instrumentalists and producers, whose sound is enhanced -- never overstuffed -- with horns, woodwinds, and strings, including harp. Tempos rarely break a breezy pace. When they do, they arrive at just the right time, during the album's latter half. The lilting "3 Days" echoes
the Blue Nile
's "Tinseltown in the Rain," while "Hunger" is breathy boogie, like a sequel to
Owusu & Hannibal
's "Lonnie's Secret" with surprisingly well-placed horn skronks. In the main, the purpose is bedroom listening, though the tone is so bright that daytime play seems most suitable. The lyrics are packed with metaphors, yet they are expressed in a heartrending and inviting manner. They don't get more explicit than "I'm a fool for that shake in your thighs" -- the album's opening line.
's voice, high and sigh-like, is frequently likened to that of the significantly deeper and richer
Sade
but is closer to that of
Michael Franks
. Beside
, he's made his most expressive and pleasurable material to date. Anyone new to
's work should start with
's self-titled album and then check the group
Boom Clap Bachelors
, the album
Living with Owusu & Hannibal
,
Szjerdene
's "Lead the Way," and
Leon Ware
's "Orchids for the Sun."
has three albums on
Plug Research
, home to
, all of which are worth some time. ~ Andy Kellman