It’s summertime, which means that suave, groovy R&B albums keep rolling in. But PEEJAY‘s ‘Walkin‘ is likely to outshine some of your other summer jams with its virtuosity.
—–
From the opening track, it’s apparent that Peejay isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. Instead, he’s selling traditional R&B but pouring on the songwriting and production flare. The production of ‘Walkin’ is impeccable; it’s brimming with nuances, fantastically mastered, and has a tasty, fat bass sound. The album shines because of its polished sound world. The different parts — the bouncing bass, twinkling keyboard lines, and swelling synths — gesture and converse together with a liveliness that fizzes in your ears.
The album features a handful of R&B/hip-hop aficionados such as Jinbo, Beenzino, and Choice 37. Each add an extra splash of color to to PEEJAY’s sound, whether it be Beenzino and his nonchalant almost-singing or Jinbo and his Michael Jackson-esque bass-lines and rhythmic whispers. The album also has some jazz influences, not only through sampling but with the harmonies in the synth, electric keyboard, and bass lines.
—–
‘Walkin’ is more than just a seasonal R&B album that loses its spark once the weather cools down. PEEJAY is convinced of his groove and brings it to life with remarkable detail and finesse. The result is a savory R&B album that is not to be missed.
=====