Album Review: Jessie Ware – Superbloom
2 min read
The name Jessie Ware may be associated in one of two ways. Either it’s recognised from her wildly successful podcast Table Manners, co-hosted by Jessie’s mum Lennie, or it’s because of her wide-reaching and also hugely successful solo music career. Since 2012, Jessie has been releasing soulful pop tunes like Wildest Moments, Tough Love, and Selfish Love, but in 2020 pivoted to a more disco-influenced sound, a move that would prove advantageous. Now, three years on from her last release, she’s back with Superbloom.
After the hypnotic and slightly chaotic intro The Garden Prelude, the album truly begins with I Could Get Used To This. The introduction to the dream followed by the dream itself. Lush instrumentation and Jessie’s soothing register breeze over the disco-tinged tune. The title track continues the vibe, the bass line running laps around the tentative piano chords and backing choral vocals. It’s sensual, affectionate. Automatic opens with a surprising spoken affirmation, setting up the narrative of the speaker’s love being carefree and honest. It leads expertly into the second instrumental interlude, where the album takes a minor shift into a different sonic direction.
Sauna bubbles with 80s-esc synths, reminiscent of Lady Gaga’s Artpop era. For a song that is unashamedly about a trip to a spa with little to no subtext, it drips with passion. Mr Valentine kicks off with a cheerlead chant of a hook, Jessie singing quietly to the subject before opening up in the chorus and embracing the lust. Ride fully takes on an early euro-pop flare with whistling synth lines and subby bass. There’s an essence of Donna Summer to Jessie’s delivery that both enthrals and satisfies. The latter half of the album is made up of more disco pastiche, highlights including the Bee Gees-esc Don’t You Know Who I Am? and the outlier 16 Summers, which is a loving piano ballad dedicated to her children.
Superbloom is energetic, fun, and very sensual. In terms of Jessie’s back catalogue, the disco influence will be unsurprising to long-term fans, but the collection of tunes here is tight and mixed to perfection. It’s another flawless record, and one that truly has something for everyone.
Writer and Musician, Ryan Bulbeck has been published with a number of online publications, and has worked with a myriad of great artists, both as a performer, and as a producer. His most recent band The 295 are still active, playing shows around the UK.
