O-SHiN - II / ∞ (In Black Records) 
Release Date: Out Now
O-SHiN is the nom de plume of Berlin electro artist Stefanie de Beurs and her debut album 'II / ∞' (translated as 'Second of Infinity') is truly something special. Now you have the context, I can't wait to dive straight in with you so let's get down to it, shall we? Understandably, 'Intro' is the opening track (it would be weird to put it at the end, right?) and it is a woozy but seductive soundscape that invites you on to the beach of some South-Asian resort to sip on a cocktail before flowing gently in to 'Losing My Nature' which takes a hip-hop beat, a bubbling bass line and some sparse melodies to create a track that fits somewhere between Kimbra and Jaguar Jonze in terms of style and vibe. It's a strong start.
'Pleasure' opens with a jazz inpsired piano and percussion combination before O-SHiN's distinctive and seductive joins in, punctuated by flourishes of flute and all wrapped up in a bass line that is to die for. Indeed, the musical masterclass continues on 'Beat That My Heart Plays' with soft and impish but seductive vocals luxuriating over the top of slow piano melody and accompanied by plucked strings and sublime backing vocals. The tempo kicks up on 'Holy Night' with a hypnotic beat, intoxicating melodies that swirl around your head and O-ShiN's magical vocals that sound like Roisin Murphy at her playful best.
The real brilliance of this album is that O-SHiN manages to create songs that are both accessible and transport you to new and fantastical places without even breaking a sweat. Take 'Love Me Like Warm Water', for instance, as the swaying rhythm and low melody takes you off to a sunset somewhere warm and dry while the vocals have a touch of Robyn to them and wouldn't be out of place on commerical radio. Similarly, 'Visitor', weaves a delicate spiders web of vocal melody while that rest of the song clicks and whirs like a finely crafted Swiss watch. 'It Takes Time' starts like rain on a Sunday afternoon window in Tokyo as the rippling piano notes give this a touch of the class of Ludovico Einaudi before 'My Future Me' heads back towards the mainstream light with a soft alt-pop ballad that will sweep you off your feet.
The album (debut album, remember) closes out on 'Silence Is My Nature', a song so full of beauty and style that, if it were a person, it would turn heads wherever it went. In fact, this whole album would, if it were human, have such an air of mystery, intrigue and sultry but classy appeal that I can't imagine anyone being able to resist. Does that make O-SHiN a siren? Quite possibly.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/whoisoshin/
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