We’re back again, having already released Ye Ali & Chill 4 and the dance EP, WYA? I’m Not Mad Anymore this year, plus two new singles featuring Ro James and Eric Bellinger, the Indiana musical maverick returns with yet another EP, Gemini.
I hadn’t even got round to reviewing the extended version of Who Do You Call, with Ro James adding his unique tone to the mix and Regular Occasion (ft. Eric Bellinger), more sultry efforts from three of the current crop of crooners, and yet here we are, with this surprise drop. Gemini blends the feel of recent releases into a concise 5 track EP, kicking off with BABYONME, linking back with frequent collaborator DCMBR, though serving as an intro, it transitions into the wavy DANCEONME, a sexy mid-tempo joint balancing his smooth vocals with the infectious hi-hats, it’s a super solid solo offering that is well appreciated in this format. EVERYBODYSFAVOURITE and OVERIT sit perfectly in the middle of the project, providing more musicality and ambience, bridging between the two standouts DANCEONME and another result of his recent experimentation with the uptempo rhythms, 2MUCHTIME. I never knew I would like these soulful dance records like this and 2MUCHTIME is the epitome of that, a well crafted mix of modern day R&B layered on a bed of a party-starting, head-bopping club beat. In an era where some R&B artists have released sped-up versions of their slower efforts, he’s been able to create a whole original vibe of it. The only critique could be the length of the project, if you take the two from this, with a few others from each release, you have a close to perfect album, which as a fan only makes you wonder what else is in the tuck.
With these multiple releases, Ye Ali reaffirms his position in the game and the duality of Gemini only adds to the plethora of styles and sounds he’s mastered as he continues to progress the evolution of R&B further.
ONE Fáris 