The ululation that opens Joyride, the title track of R&B star Tinashe’s third album, could well be a howl of pain, and the title a sarcastic sneer. The long-awaited return of the child star turned singer (there have been mixtapes) was due in 2016, but repeated delays rapidly made it less of a joyride and more of a breakdown in bank holiday traffic. Moreover, the title track nearly made it on to Rihanna’s 2016 album, Anti, before Tinashe wrested it back.
Fortunately, Joyride doesn’t sound too much like trench warfare between star and industry; it has been substantially refreshed over the course of its gestation to include unexpected collaborations with Little Dragon, as well as bankers such as Offset on No Drama. Me So Bad feat Ty Dolla $ign and French Montana finds Tinashe demanding a better bassline, but the Caribbean inclinations here can’t help but recall a certain Barbadian megastar rather than the slightly more aerated slink’n’swing that established Tinashe’s brand back in 2014.
The deeper cuts boast a little more personality. You don’t expect too many sonic innovations from a record this mainstream, but the creaking chair beat on standout track Ooh La La is a welcome curveball, as is Salt, an almost bluesy track that showcases Tinashe’s huskier register.
