Wallflower

Moving to London after the success of 2014’s Groove Curse EP forced New Zealand-born, Brisbane-raised Jordan Rakei to confront his introversion and anxiety. He taps into that experience on this album of warm, inventive soul. With a voice that switches gracefully from velvety longing to Jeff Buckley-like fragility, he picks over his insecurity on the gentle funk of “Nerve” and sighs about an “unnecessary goodbye” on the fluid, string-mottled “Goodbyes”. “Clues Blues” offers the best showcase of Rakei’s skill and versatility, moulding electronic R&B, dub and jazz into a cohesive soundtrack for his absorbing introspection.