Description
His previous album ‘After Hours’ – encompassed a combination of melancholy and dancefloor propulsion – And Dawn FM is a fitting successor with a stunning display of pop prowess. The album comes studded with star guests that say something about its author’s status. The inter-track narration is provided by Jim Carrey; Quincy Jones rocks up six tracks in, discussing his mother’s mental illness and the effect it had on his relationships; Here We Go… Again improbably unites Tyler, the Creator and 79-year-old Beach Boy Bruce Johnston; whilst the production team pitches together with impressive cohesion.
And its musical references seem to place its author in a lineage of greats: from ‘Here We Go… Again’s suggestion of Barry White, the concluding ‘Phantom Regret’ By Jim nods to both Prince and Marc Bolan.
But the most noticeable thing about Dawn FM is how effortless and confident it feels, as if Abel Tesfaye has been bolstered rather than cowed by its predecessor’s success. Brilliantly written, produced and sung, it offers the captivating sound of an artist who knows he’s at the top of his game, at a blissful point at which every melody sticks, and every production idea works just so.
