Lianne La Havas Blood: A Look at the Critical and Commercial Success of the Album

Do I really want to give a positive review to a project in which the favorite spectator sport is to "watch DeLucas blood getting spilled," as Ghostface, joined by Vince Staples, proclaims on "Get the Money"? Yes. "Twelve Reasons" benefits from guest appearances by the Wu Tang's RZA, among others. But it succeeds mostly because Young's throwback jams -- often included in both vocal and instrumental versions -- deliver high-grade, hot-buttered funk, straight out of a '70s blaxploitation movie.

Lianne La Havas Blood

Download

As well as working with McGregor, La Havas reunited with past collaborator Matt Hales, La Havas co-wrote each of the album's songs and was credited as a co-producer on one. Havas cited the album as a homage towards her Jamaican and Greek bloodline which in turn inspired the album's title. Blood was seen as departure from the acoustic musical leanings of her debut Is Your Love Big Enough? (2012), taking on a neo soul and jazz style, with elements of R&B, doo-wop, reggae and gospel music. The album's songs were characterised as having heavy basses with electronic flourishes and lyrics focusing on love, relationships and identity. 2ff7e9595c