It’s been a waiting game (an ode to track 3) anticipating the release of Julian Bank’s debut record and as an early ambassador of her gloomy rhapsodic vocals and underground R&B Beats. For the intriguing of being familiar and typically contemporary of the UK scene and yet just different and challenging enough to not be too commercially viable. It’s ironic that the musician with such a British sound whom released an EP earlier in the year entitled “London” is actually from Los Angeles.

 

Although, her social media hiatus and shadowy music videos also suggest an identity that is self transforming, distant and non-conforming. So what’s the verdict on an eagerly awaited album? It’s like listening to Greatest Hits album in a way. We have been so acquainted with her truckload of singles in the space of the last 18 months (a time period which gave her a BBC Sound of 2014 gong) that this reminds us of a “this is what I made earlier” skit. The vibe is that this is several past albums combined into one and “This is What It Feels Like” and “Warm Water” are examples of songs uncovered donkeys years ago.

 

The songs also don’t blend into each other as an album as I once imagined. Our only fresh interest is in album tracks that we haven’t made friends with yet and with the exception of the memorable “Stick”, the newer batch is a bit of a let down. Unfortunately, she has gone down the same route as Katy B which that is include unconvincing unnecessary ballads when her strengths belong in the unique powerful beats. This is what Banks does best and she is a goddess at it. A 14-track album could have been faultless if it was reduced to ten songs. A typical case of trying too hard to be diverse, rather than sticking with your strengths. MTH