by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Jessy Lanza’s fourth solo album for Hyperdub was originally intended for other people to sing. However during the writing process, the Canadian singer realised the songs were too close to home for anyone else to sing, the lyrics telling of her own life experience.

The seeds for Love Hallucination sown, she set about collaborating with like minded producers, delivering an album commonly agreed to be her most personal work yet.

What’s the music like?

This album hits on a winning combination of club-savvy productions and personal lyrics, giving Jessy Lanza several ways in which she can move her listeners.

Fragility and anxiety are freely discussed and explored – but so are sexual likes and dislikes, relationship dos and don’ts, dreams and fears. All are freely expressed over beats and trim productions sculpted with the help of well-chosen producers such as Pearson Sound, Tensnake and Jacques Greene.

The voice matches the beats beautifully – in Greene’s case setting a nocturnal scene for Midnight Ontario, or with Tensnake delivering disco goodness for Limbo. By contrast the niggly, angst-ridden tales like Big Pink Rose or Don’t Cry On My Pillow get agitated beats to match.

Yet good as the beats are, the voice is the star – and Lanza’s cool delivery is distinctive but also an instrument that communicates her thoughts and feelings with unerring clarity.

Does it all work?

It does – this music is cool to the touch but full of expression. The urban soundscapes work a treat too.

Is it recommended?

It is. An album that mixes club sensibilities and tales that tell of deeply felt, first hand experience.