Rhye is the project of Canadian singer-songwriter Mike Milosh, who’s now based in Los Angeles. Milosh is a classically trained cellist but also broke onto the Berlin electronic music scene with his earlier projects ‘You Make Me Feel’ (2004) and ‘Meme’ (2006). These influences shine through in Rhye’s discography, adding a layer of intrigue to their smooth R&B sound.
Written throughout 2019 and early 2020, the new album ‘Home’ builds upon the sound Rhye has been cultivating since their breakthrough album ‘Woman’ (2013). The combination of its funky, smooth instrumentation and lyrics filled with innuendo is reminiscent of some of the great slow jams coming out of the 80s and 90s. The rich vocals of these standards give way to Milosh’s whispery falsetto evocative of indie breakthroughs like Whitney and Beach House. The blend of these distinctive sounds is not jarring though, and feels very natural to listen to. This isn’t a fault of the record though. One of the great things about this album is the atmosphere it creates, the way it fills a room with tender songs that don’t call too much attention to themselves. Instead of captivating an audience within its own desire, ‘Home’ allows the listener to be present in their own. It’s no secret that Rhye’s music is deeply sensual, and it earns that description because of its ability to allow the listener to bask in their own sensuality, rather than one the music is creating for them.
You must be logged in to post a comment.