Essentials – Erika de Casier

Erika de Casier’s debut album Essentials is released on the classic analogue format – vinyl. It’s a delight to see so many artists releasing on this format again. Granted, it’s a more significant cost investment, but the result beats the intangible feel of a digital playlist. And with a streaming return of $0.0043 per play (Spotify), it’s instantly rewarding too.

The album opens with The Flow – a chilled lo-fi introduction before her two previously released singles Do My Thing, Good Time excite the soundwaves. Like ice cream in the sun, the beats are warm and the vocals sweet. Erika has a delicate, soulful voice comparable to Sade – silky smooth and with a gentle, sensual, tone almost of whisper quality.

The text reveals a highly observant lyricist and translator of her life’s experiences, reflecting modern relationships – distractions and communications.

The album is excellently produced throughout and highlighted in the gems – Little Bit and the candlelit glow of the slow-burner – Intimate. The bass knob gets turned up on the gem – Photo of You with neat sound effects and the Danish songstresses vocals are served as warm as toast.

The album is an immersive laid-back listening experience; however, the later tracks do feel somewhat less engaging from such impressive openings, and drifts in its attentiveness. Perhaps they felt the same as I did as the inclusion of a club mix of Intimate lifts the end of the album. However, I fear you’ll be stuck playing the sublime A Side to hear it.

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