Charm Review

The change that matters is rhythm. Where Sling was hushed and static, this one moves: a warm bass sitting forward, drums with actual swing, Rhodes and clavinet and flute arranged the way records were arranged in about 1973, all cut to tape with a small group in a room. Sexy to Someone is the obvious single and it is charming, a song about wanting to be desirable to anybody at all, delivered with a shrug.

Juna is the best track, a soft funk groove with a vocal that finally sounds like it is enjoying itself. Nomad and Add Up My Love have real hooks. Pier 4 closes it beautifully. The lyrics remain conversational and occasionally slight, and nothing here is trying to be profound, which is exactly why it works. It is unhurried, tactile and consistently pleasant company for thirty seven minutes, which is a harder thing to achieve than it sounds.