Wolverhampton's Jay l'Booth - New Age Wave - EP review
Former The Star Unsigned column act Jay l'Booth has released a new EP.
Based on her experiences and feelings over the past two years, the melodic rapper has developed six tracks that mirror her life changes in that time - with a little help from fellow Wulfrunian Ayy and Shenai, from London.
It's full of big beats and, as Jay describes them, "futuristic sounds" - such as the backing to Prove It OG. Here, her almost delicate voice is allowed to experiment in styles and deliveries. Her singing voice is quietly powerful through the first half, before the tension is cranked up a notch with lower, spoken word delivery over the top of reverberating, almost echoed bass.
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"The sound is futuristic with timeless influences," she says herself of the EP, recorded in the city's Beatsabar Studios inside Newhampton Arts Centre with Keith 'Spock' Dilworth. "The different vibes compliment each other, taking the listener on a sonical journey."
This is definitely true for Cannibals. This almost sounds like a danger warning as spaced out synths rise and fall behind Jay as she leans back on her rapping origins to deliver a track packed full of attitude. This is one of the more personal creations looking back at past relationships and her honesty shines through like a beacon.
The more stripped back approach to Make You Mine, using soft keyboards, allows Jay and guest star Shenai to swap soaring vocals as Ayy chips in with the deeper approach to proceedings. It feels free and full of fun and is one of the highlights of this collection.
Contrast this with the heavy beats in What You Saying - also featuring Ayy - and the atmospherics are suddenly more claustrophobic and tense. Again synths prevail, but of an altogether more dangerous vibe.
Closing track Dank should prove popular with live crowds thanks to the big production behind Jay's vocals. Especially when the beats cut out, Jay is carried by cloud-like synths which allow her to spit her vocals without too much interruption.
It's a confident return for the BBC Radio WM Sound of 2019 list featuring artist. She is maturing into a confident songwriter.
Rating: 6/10
Follow Jay on Twitter @JaylBooth and Facebook @BOOTHSBACK. The EP is already available on her Spotify page to stream. Other digital formats can be accesed through Smart URL.
