Featuring the work of several different producers, Kelela’s ‘Cut 4 U’ carries the through line of her 90’s style R&B vocal swagger and forward thinking arrangements. It’s the silky smooth sensuality of Sade mixed with the grit of cutting edge electronic production. Her album was released with great critical reception, but her awareness is only now seeping out beyond the blogosphere. The Morri$-produced track, "Go All Night," is sporadically glitchy, giving space for Kelela’s breezy vocal layers to move in and out between the beats. One of the more sexually-tinged tracks, it gives you what you want from a laid-back R&B track with the unexpected melodic twists and turns that trademark her work. Kelela performs April 1 at The Echo with fellow collaborators, Nguzunguzu, and Total Freedom. – Jacqueline Caruso
