Andrew and Daniel Aged's first release for 4AD was a 2011 EP that offered three tracks of shuddering, shale-strength neo-new jack swing. On their first album, they display a deeper understanding of contemporary R&B and reduce and smooth their sound to wispy mood pieces. A handful of the songs are superbly shaped, dynamic, and somewhat muscular. "The Place" and "5 Days" are similarly churning lullabies with sharp hooks, where Inc.'s yearning aches -- otherwise vaguely suggested -- penetrate with reflections like "I know I have to try to be my best/Because that is all he ever wants." Highlight "Trust (Hell Below)" is the only instance where they approach the energy level of the EP, but even that one doesn't aspire to jam status, too casual in its swing to work up a sweat. There's some definite promise. The Aged brothers, who have worked with
Raphael Saadiq and
Cee Lo Green, among others, clearly know their stuff -- like they study and value it rather than pay it mere lip service -- and are not playacting. ~ Andy Kellman