Nala Sinephro
's music is both reserved and adventurous. It shyly beckons the listener to enter its space, then it soon reveals itself to be illuminating and transportive, full of spirit and in awe of the beauty of the universe.
Space 1.8
, her 2022 debut, was a mesmerizing fusion of spiritual jazz and ambient music that felt both celestial and earthly. The 2024 follow-up
Endlessness
is another cycle with each piece bearing a consecutively numbered similar title (appropriately enough, "Continuum"). Its cast includes returning guests such as keyboard player
Lyle Barton
and saxophone visionary
Nubya Garcia
, in addition to others such as
black midi
drummer
Morgan Simpson
and trumpeter
Sheila Maurice-Grey
(
Kokoroko
,
Nérija
), as well as string ensemble
Orchestrate
.
Sinephro
's modular synths trickle in during the softly radiating opening track, which keeps a calm pace even as the drums snake through the gently swelling strings and saxophone. "Continuum 3" melds graceful harp plucking with dazzling synth soloing, and a pair of short, cloudy pieces build up to "Continuum 6," which thrills with its racing synth arpeggios and positive energy. Blissful strings carry the feeling into the heavens on the following tracks, which are also imbued with space-age synth textures. Finally, the album culminates with the ecstatic rush of finale "Continuum 10," which accelerates into a head-spinning climax. Much like
's debut,
is refreshing, enlightening, and awe-inspiring all at once. ~ Paul Simpson