Reflection (Loraine James album)

Reflection
Studio album by
Loraine James
Released4 June 2021
GenreElectronic
Length45:40
LabelHyperdub
ProducerLoraine James
Loraine James chronology
Nothing EP
(2020) 		Reflection
(2021) 		Whatever the Weather
(2022)

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.

Composition

While 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

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.3/10[3]
Metacritic86/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
Beats Per Minute82%[5]
Crack Magazine8/10[6]
Mojo[2]
Pitchfork7.9/10[7]
PopMatters10/10[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

Reflection on year-end lists
Publication List Rank Ref.
Beats Per Minute BPM's Top 50 Albums of 2021
31
[9]
Clash Clash Albums of the Year 2021
43
[10]
Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 2021
39
[11]
PopMatters The 75 Best Albums of 2021
21
[12]
Slant Magazine The 50 Best Albums of 2021
21
[13]
Stereogum The 50 Best Albums of 2021
43
[14]

Track listing

Reflection track listing
No.TitleLength
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

  1. ^ a b c d Tom Morgan (1 June 2021). "Loraine James: Reflection". PopMatters. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Mojo 07.21". Internet Archive. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Reflection by Loraine James reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Critic Reviews for Reflection - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  5. ^ Jasper Willems (10 June 2021). "Album Review: Loraine James - Reflection". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  6. ^ Jemima Skala. "Loraine James - 'Reflection' review". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  7. ^ Philip Sherburne. "Loraine James: Reflection Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  8. ^ Reflection - Loraine James | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2 October 2021
  9. ^ "BPM's Top 50 Albums of 2021". Beats Per Minute. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  10. ^ "Clash Albums Of The Year 2021". Clash. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  11. ^ Adjei-Kontoh, Hubert (7 December 2021). "The 50 Best Albums of 2021". Pitchfork. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  12. ^ "The 75 Best Albums of 2021 (Page 6)". PopMatters. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  13. ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2021". Slant Magazine. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  14. ^ "The 50 Best Albums Of 2021". Stereogum. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2024.