Taylor McFerrin – Love’s Last Chance

“For my first time writing and singing my own lyrics, I didn’t want to be messing around with make believe and fantasy. This record is real life”, says Taylor McFerrin about his brilliant new album “Love’s Last Chance”, his first after his 2014 debut “Early Riser”. “I called this album Love’s Last Chance because in life, you don’t get a million opportunities to get love right. Sometimes, with both your art and your relationships, you realize that it’s now or never.” (from BrooklynVegan)

His sympathetically quirky blend of neo-soul, jazz, 80s synth, and almost new wave-y kind of singing style graces his much too short album from the start of “All I See Is You” to the final “So Cold In The Summer”, strengthening his way of writing extremely catchy tunes with a twist or two. My favorite so far is the dreamy ballad “Love And Distance” and even though it deals with a relationship falling apart, the song and production and Taylor’s singing is pure bliss.

The first single “Now That You Need Me” adds some more smoothness and hip electronics to the proceedings, turning it into the perfect pop song of the day. There are three very short snippets on the album, one features flutist Elena Pinderhughes on “As You Are” which really cries out for more. My other favorite cut here is “Memory Digital”, another superbly produced, funky soul/jazz stepper where Taylor blends well with singer Anna Wise and once again deals with a lost relationship: “All that I have left of you are pictures on my phone”.

Voice and keys are one on “I Can’t Give Your Time Back”, a floating dreamer of a track with an abrupt ending. Taylor played Brooklyn’s Rough Trade last Wednesday and performs at Austin’s Radio Milk tomorrow (October 24th). I can’t wait to see him perform his new songs live in Berlin next month. Please make sure to check him out. He’s on a short European trip:

11/12 Amsterdam – Paradiso
11/15 Berlin – Baketown
11/18 Paris – Duc des Lombards
11/19 London – Oslo Hackney
11/20 Dublin – The Sugar Club
11/22 Lisbon – Music Box
11/23 Porto – Plano B