Bleep

You get the feeling sometimes that serpentwithfeet is a great theatrical method actor, his performances elemental and deeply emotive, and yet steeped in layers upon layers of poetic misdirection. Evidently recorded in the midst of a blossoming romance, his second album DEACON sees serpent expertly harnessing the energies of the pop and R&B that always radiated from the background of his operatic craft — and what’s more, he’s never sounded quite so life-affirming.

He counts his blessings on lead single ‘Fellowship’, a breezy hit of sunshine beamed in gentle rolls of kalimba, jangling percussion and a killer hook in ode to the joys of friendship. Where in the past it’s been easy to imagine serpent throwing dramatic shapes in the spotlight, he proves he’s just as enthralling basking languidly in it. Mouthed trumpet fanfares punctuate the semi-trap rhythm of ‘Same Size Shoe’, a love song that consciously chances goofiness in the hunt for a deeper appreciation of the tiny details, which manages to come off akin to an uncommonly cheerful song by The Weeknd.

DEACON celebrates multitudes of mutually-held love through serpentwithfeet’s most lyrically straight-to-the-heart songs yet, showcasing the evolution of a true original unafraid of taking risks.