Reflection is the second album by London-based electronic musician Loraine James, released through Hyperdub in June 2021, which has been met with critical acclaim. It follows James' 2020 Nothing EP.
| Reflection | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 4 June 2021 | |||
| Genre | Electronic | |||
| Length | 45:40 | |||
| Label | Hyperdub | |||
| Producer | Loraine James | |||
| Loraine James chronology | ||||
| ||||
Composition
editWhile Reflection is mostly an exploration of "heartfelt" electronica,[1] it also quotes elements from drill music, R&B, techno, and more.[1][2]
Critical reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 8.3/10[3] |
| Metacritic | 86/100[4] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Beats Per Minute | 82%[5] |
| Crack Magazine | 8/10[6] |
| Mojo |  [2] |
| Pitchfork | 7.9/10[7] |
| PopMatters | 10/10[1] |
Reflection has received positive reviews. On Metacritic, it holds a score of 86 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim", based on nine reviews.[4]
Tom Morgan for PopMatters lauded the record as "a work of seductive, heartfelt brilliance", noting that James is "at the absolute peak of her powers." He gave the album a 10 out of 10 rating.[1]
Stephen Worthy of Mojo described the album's tracks as James' "genre-bending confessionals that balance truth with hope." He added that as an "endlessly inventive album," Reflections "sets a noteworthy template for modern British electronic music", notably for being "a succession of counterpoints."[2]
While AllMusic noted that "Reflection doesn't quite have the shock of the new that For You and I did", the online database admitted that "its best moments are still powerful" and that "it would be impossible to mistake the album for anyone else's perspective."[8]
Accolades
edit| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beats Per Minute | BPM's Top 50 Albums of 2021 | 31
|
|
| Clash | Clash Albums of the Year 2021 | 43
|
|
| Pitchfork | The 50 Best Albums of 2021 | 39
|
|
| PopMatters | The 75 Best Albums of 2021 | 21
|
|
| Slant Magazine | The 50 Best Albums of 2021 | 21
|
|
| Stereogum | The 50 Best Albums of 2021 | 43
|
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Built to Last" | 2:17 |
| 2. | "Lets Go" | 3:41 |
| 3. | "Simple Stuff" | 3:27 |
| 4. | "Black Ting" | 4:17 |
| 5. | "Insecure Behaviour and Fuckery" | 5:00 |
| 6. | "Self Doubt (Leaving the Club Early)" | 4:34 |
| 7. | "On the Lake Outside" | 4:51 |
| 8. | "Reflection" | 3:31 |
| 9. | "Change" | 7:12 |
| 10. | "Running Like That" | 4:19 |
| 11. | "We're Building Something New" | 2:32 |
| Total length: | 45:40 | |
References
edit- ^ a b c d Tom Morgan (1 June 2021). "Loraine James: Reflection". PopMatters. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ a b c "Mojo 07.21". Internet Archive. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ "Reflection by Loraine James reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Critic Reviews for Reflection - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ Jasper Willems (10 June 2021). "Album Review: Loraine James - Reflection". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ Jemima Skala. "Loraine James - 'Reflection' review". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ Philip Sherburne. "Loraine James: Reflection Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ Reflection - Loraine James | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2 October 2021
- ^ "BPM's Top 50 Albums of 2021". Beats Per Minute. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Clash Albums Of The Year 2021". Clash. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ Adjei-Kontoh, Hubert (7 December 2021). "The 50 Best Albums of 2021". Pitchfork. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ^ "The 75 Best Albums of 2021 (Page 6)". PopMatters. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2021". Slant Magazine. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "The 50 Best Albums Of 2021". Stereogum. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2024.