Raindance

Raindance by ODELET is a beautiful funk project with some neo soul influences that elevate its impact. The way it juggles emotional intimacy with steezy beats is unique and amplifies its core sonic through line. While transcending a variety of genres, the project remains truly itself from beginning to end. I’m impressed by its cohesion and charm. The first track, Know It All, introduces us to the piece’s tone with this slow and delicate dance between the vocals and the drums. The rhythm puts in the structure for the vocal to move around, creating this beautiful juxtaposition between order and mobility.

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The voice takes the melody in whichever direction it prefers, finding comfort in the highs and lows of the track’s sonic register. Comfort is the key word here. The way that the voice ambles around the track, creates this languid sense of ease that really relaxes you as a listener. The titular track, Raindance, expands on this sound with a more nuanced rhythm and counter rhythm that bounce off one another. They have their own sonic conversations between the bass and drums. The bass follows the vocal in this tonal style of pushing the rhythmic boundaries whereas the drums feel consistent. The vocals here experiment more with discordance, leaning into uncomfortable tones and nailing them sonically. It shows an emotional range from the opening track. It has its own rhythm but is very clearly not in a rush for anyone. Wake Up Call, a little further into the project, is a personal favourite. It combines the enigmatic melancholy with a more energetic rhythm to form a track that feels like the perfect representation of the project overall. It sounds like the kind of track that would be playing in an avant garde art gallery or an artisan coffee shop with £12 lattes. It captures that detached confidence perfectly. 

I’m thrilled by this project’s sonic evolution throughout. As a listener I feel like I experienced them putting together all of these different aspects to mould their sound. It’s a joy to hear a project evolve as you listen. Experience it for yourself below!