Five years since the release of his last album, singer-rapper Ricardo Valdez Valentine Jr, AKA 6lack, has undergone something of a musical transformation. While 2016’s debut, Free 6lack, and 2018’s East Atlanta Love Letter both traded on the downtempo, bass-heavy R&B balladry that made a name for Valentine’s contemporaries such as the Weeknd, his third record explores more uptempo, pop-leaning territory.
Across the mammoth 19 tracks of Since I Have a Lover, Valentine experiments with glittering, guitar-strumming melodies and energetic trap drums to enticing effect. Inwood Hill Park and the title number brighten up his usually murky musical palette with their acoustic backing, giving his gravelly voice space to breathe, rather than mumble. Other songs, such as Temporary, with its fractal breakbeats, and Talkback’s electric guitar hook, further broaden Valentine’s scope from nocturnal bedroom beats to the dancefloor.
Yet, with such a long tracklist, Since I Have a Lover is stifled by the weight of its slow and atmospheric fillers. Playin House, Fatal Attraction, Rent Free and half a dozen other yearning ballads sit unevenly with the more vivid sounds Valentine is exploring. Ultimately, this is the work of an artist in transition, catering to old fans and well-trodden styles while attempting to settle on something new.
