ELDORADO

On ELDORADO, James brings a sense of danger to his smoldering R&B. Inspired in part by Prince—and reminiscent of recent work by Miguel and Frank Ocean—the soul singer's full-length debut is a sensual set of nocturnal slow jams that lends classic sounds an atmospheric, hip-hop-indebted edge. While “Permission” uses a low-lit sample of Willie Hutch’s 1973 cut “Brother’s Gonna Work It Out” to soundtrack a proposition of its own, “Holy Water” is a powerfully sung gospel tune backdropped only by streams of spartan, xx-like guitar and epic waves of organ.