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Essie Ware intentionally created the first track of That! Feels Good! to resemble a group of people engaged in an orgy. The track features Kylie Minogue, actor Jamie Demetriou, Radio 1 host Clara Amfo, producer Benny Blanco, and Ware’s mother (also the co-host of the popular podcast Table Manners), all whispering the album’s title. This creates a satisfying and immersive experience similar to an ASMR video, drawing listeners into the luxurious world of Ware’s exceptional fifth album. The record celebrates the artist’s joyful sense of freedom, as conveyed in the lyrics of the title track: “Freedom is a sound / And pleasure is a right!”
Ware confidently declared her qualifications to make a bold statement. After her lackluster third album, Glasshouse, in 2017, she reflected on her musical journey and decided to shake things up. With new management and a focus on enjoying herself, she created her lockdown album, What’s Your Pleasure?, in 2020. This sophisticated disco record revived Ware’s career and recaptured the dance music diva persona of her early days. Her live performances exuded the wild energy of an underground club, with Ware commanding the stage like a dominant ringmaster. After the monotonous isolation of the pandemic, Ware seemed to be urging the world to make the most of their time.
The album That! Feels Good! exudes an intoxicating sense of pleasure and excitement, with Ware encouraging listeners to fully embrace their desires. Furthermore, she sets a good example, expressing her own love for adventure and risk in the lyrics of the catchy track Pearls. On Free Yourself, Ware’s vocals ride over a lively mix of piano, bass, and disco strings, promoting self-satisfaction and sexual independence. Similarly, Beautiful People, featuring Ware’s confident rap and upbeat cowbells and horns, emphasizes the healing powers of the dancefloor in overcoming life’s hardships.
Ware’s vocal ability is her strongest asset, and she showcases it skillfully on her album That! Feels Good! In songs like “Free Yourself,” “Pearls,” and “Freak Me Now,” which has a similar sound to Chic, she knows when to turn up the energy and uses her impressive range to its full potential, going from powerful theatrics to alluring seduction. The album also features a return to the airy delivery seen in her earlier tracks like “Running,” with dreamy synths and an R&B beat creating a soft morning glow. In “Lightning,” Ware’s delicate and breathy voice takes center stage, accompanied by smooth rhythms, cascading horns, sweet strings, and a clavinet, all enveloped in her luxurious bedroom purr.
Jessie Ware showcases her vocal prowess on the Latin disco track Begin Again, reaching her upper register with confidence during the song’s climax. She sings about wanting something that surpasses expectations and reflects on the monotony of daily life in the chorus, questioning if this is truly her life and if she can begin anew. If Jessie Ware’s reset button leads to the carefree and enjoyable vibes of That! Feels Good!, she may have struck gold.
Source: theguardian.com
