After winning best newcomer of the year at the 2011 Ibiza DJ awards as well as ranking at number 9 on Resident Advisor’s 2011 “DJ Poll”, it is understandable that the weeks preceding the release of Maya Jane Coles’ well awaited debut LP, Comfort, gave birth to a manic media frenzy: tweets, exclusive streaming and interviews; MJC was on everyone’s lips.
With Bristol rapper Tricky, Kim Ann Foxman from Hercules and Love Affair, Swedish singer of Superworldunknown Karen Park, Nadine Shah, Miss Kitten and Alpine collaborating on the album, its obvious it was engineered to attract attention.
But Comfort is no case of “big names no content” and it seems far more personal and emotive an album than any of Coles’ previous releases. Even though the 25-year-old producer often leaves the vocal centre stage to one of the powerhouse artists featuring on the album, the music and the arrangement of the songs beautifully carry Coles’ ballad of loneliness to our ears. Each song different from the previous one flows into the next to create an album that holds together.
The British-Japanese producer was certainly trying to experiment and take her music in a new direction whilst still holding on to the style that made her name three years ago: trip-hop and dub step influences mixed with stunning bass tones and rhythmic punches. It’s the string that holds the album together from beginning to end and give some energy and a slight pop feeling to the otherwise more melancholic album.
The first half of the album feels a lot more contemporary and dreamy than the latter. The title-track as well as “Easier to Hide” with scenic icy vocals by Karin Park invite us for a pleasant wander into Coles’ world. And on the other hand, tracks like “Burning Bright” featuring Kim Ann Foxman, “Everything” featuring Park or “Wait for You” with somber and sensual vocals by Tricky feel a lot more club-like and seem to dig inspiration from 90’s/ 2000’s techno.
Comfort is sure to become a summer staple deep house beats with a bit of 90’s nostalgia: how can one refuse? However, the sole let down of the album is the lyrics. And thank god the stronger points of the album skillfully overshadow them, as they seem to be a bit devoid of sense and verge on clichés. But without paying too much attention the words and letting yourself be carried by the melodies, Comfort becomes exactly what it says on the tin: a wonderful comforting listen.
Sophie Adams
