CHAKA KHAN — Hello Happiness (review)

CHAKA KHAN — Hello Happiness album cover EP · 2019 · RnB Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
snobb
"Queen of Funk" and 80s disco diva Chaka Khan returns with "Hello Happiness", her first new material release in 12 years. Seven songs/28 minutes-long EP for a very first days received lot of (predominantly) negative critics in America and some (mostly positive) press in UK. Still it looks "Hello Happiness" has small chance to win another Grammy for Chaka.

Me personally I really love this music. Produced in UK by clubbing music guru Switch, new Chaka's music just blows your minds. American press probably expected Rufus revival or "I'm Every Woman" kind disco mega-hit, and attacked album as being "over-produced","with lots of electronics" and "terrible processed Chaka's vocals". They are right - there are no organic r'n'b vibes here at all. Made in a fashion of London clubbing music, it differs from Chaka's old songs as Madonna's "Music" differs "Like A Virgin". "Like A Virgin" got it respectable place in a museum of American pop-music, and "Music" sounds modern till now.

First album's single "Hello Happiness" has been released as catchy and funny video still prior to EP's release. Groovy funky sound of highest energy with strong voice and catchy melodies - and modern enough arrangements are characteristic for the rest album's songs as well. "Isn't That Enough?" even contains so fashionable (at least in London) reggae rhythms.

True, there are no hip-hop, angry social street-wise recitatives,heavy psychedelic electronics or popular Afro-beat on this album. That's why despite of mostly positive media it will hardly become hit in UK as well. It's a pity - one rare great modern r'n'b work with touch of European elegance is worth of really better destiny.
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