IRI - Shade

What if the Japanese urban scene were starting to stir again? Not that Japan has been devoid of talents capable of dragging r&b/hip-hop expressiveness out of the treacle of the late Noughties, but what's been missing is the formation of a context, a scene that would allow promising musicians to emerge and consolidate their standing, beyond the dense undergrowth. The fact that a name like iri, still signed to a small independent label, can rack up millions of views and carve out a niche in a national scene dominated by entirely different genres speaks volumes about the appetite for fresh, engaging urban sounds, capable of giving new momentum to an entire movement. "Shade", the third album from the young musician from Zushi, is her most mature and accomplished collection, a treasure chest of shimmering melodies and refined passages that inject crisp electro lines, house phrasing and hip-hop segments into the fabric of elegant, supple songs with a touch that's both soulful and street-smart; the launchpad for more ambitious projects has been built here.

A gritty, assertive voice, far removed from kawaii stereotypes and delicate singer-songwriter forms (in her more subdued moments she recalls the jazzy sophistication of fellow Japanese artist UA), iri handles the most contemporary electro expressions with the same drive (the nu-r&b lines of "Only One", the hip-house of "Cake", poised between Fatima and Disclosure) as well as curious glances to the past (the 90s evocations of "Wonderland"), expressing herself with equal conviction in both soul singing and rap phrasing, showing a grasp of the urban landscape that defies any crude pigeonholing. A slow number like "Hikou" breaks free from the predictability of the soul ballad thanks to the powerful conviction of the performance and the funk minimalism of the backing track, "Peak" knows how to make the most of a guitar line by adapting it to an interesting rhythmic pattern and a nocturnal-flavored melody, shortly before "Keep On Trying" channels the energy of early TLC into a refined pop-hop design.

Fully blossomed, aware of her own abilities and her own language, the Japanese artist is ready to take flight. Could she pave the way for a new wave of urban musicians?

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09/01/2020