DRAMA is the Chicago-based duo of producer Na’el Shehade and vocalist Via Rosa, their project blurs the lines between R&B and dance music past, present, and future. Dance Without Me is their years-in-the-making debut, a vibrant and soulful take on romantic tragedy. Rosa’s delivery is inspired by the inherently improvisational nature of jazz and the playful arrangements of Boss nova, which neatly compliments Shehad’s Chicago house-inspired productions. These songs are truly collaborative affairs, often beginning as freeform vocalizations that were tinkered with, expanded, and refined over time, each track finding its own inspiration and pace. “7:04 AM” is all-encompassing piano chords with punchy percussion, “Years” is a built on fierce breakbeats that remind of arena-filling trip-hop along the lines of Massive Attack or UNKLE. “Forever and a Day” is the most faithfully house-influenced track, rumbling sub-bass, glimmering piano stabs, chest-pounding percussion, and a seemingly effortless earworm of a vocal line. “Nine One One” is cosmic synth, sampled celebrations, and sweeping strings, title track “Dance Without Me” is a vibrant closer, heavenly instrumentation and incredible vocal vamps. This album is packaged in a sleeve with spot-gloss accents and a printed inner sleeve with full album lyrics. Recommended.

• black vinyl pressing
• sleeve features spot-gloss accents, includes printed inner with full album lyrics
  
• digital download included
• music label: Ghostly International 2020

reviewed by JEFFERSON MARSHALL 2/2020