Los Angeles (AP) 鈥� The Sudanese-American actor/artist Dua Saleh, best known for their work as Cal Bowman on mesmerizes within the first few seconds of their experimental debut album, 鈥淚 Should Call Them.鈥�
The opening track 鈥淐hi Girl鈥� lays the foundation for the rest of Saleh鈥檚 infectious project. A haunting string arrangement echos, melting into the background of Saleh's ethereal vocals. Then, a transition: electronic percussion introduces a tale of desire.
鈥淏aby going down/Now I鈥檓 drunk off of your touch," Saleh sings in a laidback falsetto. 鈥淚 throw it down/Looking down when we downtown/If it ain鈥檛 love, then what鈥檚 up?鈥�
An intoxicating blend of indie pop and electronica bleeds effortlessly in 鈥淲ant鈥� 鈥� a track that parallels the moody, sensuality of Saleh's sonic contemporaries, like or Majid Jordan. But Saleh avoids being derivative by infusing elements of rock, R&B, and rap 鈥� offering their unique edge to familiar sounds.
On 鈥淚 Should Call Them,鈥� Saleh's avant-pop doesn't play it safe, using complex instrumentation and poetic lyricism worthy of repeat listens.
Even though they are best known as an actor, Saleh has been releasing music since 2017, garnering attention in certain sections of the internet for their inventive rap and pop tracks, and Even then, they weren't afraid to take risks. And on this genre-fluid album, they've managed to sharpen their craft.
Tracks like 鈥淭ime & Time Again,鈥� featuring Indian R&B artist Sid Sriram, find Saleh effortlessly stepping into alt-R&B, with a sexy-and-slow blend of strings and percussion, amplified by Sriram and Saleh鈥檚 breathy harmonies.
鈥淏o Peep" blends elements of rap, electronica and Latin instruments, genre-agnostic production that allows their vocal range to shine.
Thematically, it moves from sweet and suggestive to laidback bravado. Saleh raps, 鈥淭hinking 鈥榖out her body got me swimmin鈥� she the truth/I ain鈥檛 had to think about the dip into the pool.鈥�
鈥淚 Should Call Them鈥� dips in excitement near the mid-way point, after 鈥淯nruly," which features NYC experimental R&B artist serpentwithfeet. Later, "Playing Games," and 鈥淭elevision,鈥� which features Ambr茅, sandwich the upbeat electronica track 鈥淐radle" 鈥� a brief intermission in an otherwise strong work of art.
At a time when some outsider pop lacks luster, Saleh鈥檚 inventive project makes the case that they may very well be at forefront of the next wave of genre. In that way, they are not dissimilar to other unconventional in the early days of their career.
The album wraps with the chaotic punk of 鈥�2excited" 鈥� a seductive closure with saxophone and snapping. It is the final stop on the emotional rollercoaster, and an ideal reminder that this debut album is full of surprises. What most new artists are afraid to attempt, Saleh runs toward.
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Leslie Ambriz, The Associated Press
